AISI: U.S. August Steel Import Permits Rise 8.9%, Finished Steel Market Share at 18%

U.S. steel import permit applications totaled 2.499 million net tons in August 2026, up 8.9% from the 2.294 million net tons recorded in July, according to the latest Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

August permit applications were also 10.1% higher than July’s final steel imports of 2.268 million net tons. Import permit applications for finished steel totaled 1.694 million net tons in August, up 8.8% from July’s final finished steel imports of 1.564 million net tons.

For the first eight months of 2026, total steel imports, based on August SIMA permits and July final import data, reached 16.06 million net tons, down 14.3% from the same period in 2025. Finished steel imports totaled 11.43 million net tons, down 17.8% year over year. AISI estimated finished steel’s share of the U.S. market at 18% in August and 16% for the year to date.

Several steel product categories recorded substantial increases in August permit applications compared with July final imports. Permits for other rails rose 78%, plates in coils increased 74%, cut-length plates rose 72%, and hot-rolled sheets increased 67%. Black plate permits were up 43%, while cold-rolled sheets and galvanized and electrolytic sheets and strip increased 33% and 28%, respectively.

On a year-to-date basis, heavy structural shapes recorded the largest increase among the products highlighted by AISI, rising 69% from the same period in 2025. Standard rail imports increased 49%, electrical sheets and strip rose 44%, and structural pipe and tubing increased 26%.

South Korea accounted for the largest volume of August steel import permit applications at 418,000 net tons, down 25% from its July final imports. Brazil followed at 368,000 net tons, up 45%, while Canada recorded 284,000 net tons, up 1%. Mexico accounted for 203,000 net tons, up 5.5%, and Vietnam recorded 134,000 net tons, down 13.6%.

For the first eight months of 2026, South Korea remained the largest supplier at 2.968 million net tons, up 52% from the same period in 2025. Canada supplied 2.136 million net tons, down 37%, followed by Brazil at 2.126 million net tons, down 33%.

AISI noted that SIMA permit data represent tonnage requested in applications for steel import licenses and do not constitute actual import volumes. Permit tonnage may differ from final import volumes for a given month.

Source: The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

SUNSHINE Spotlight: U.S. steel import permit applications rose 8.9% in August to 2.499 million net tons, while finished steel’s estimated market share reached 18%, despite year-to-date steel imports remaining below 2025 levels.