AISI: U.S. Steel Import Permit Applications Rise in June, Finished Import Share Holds at 17%

U.S. steel import permit applications increased in June, while finished steel imports declined from the previous month, according to the latest Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Based on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SIMA data, total steel import permit applications reached 2.059 million net tons in June, up 3.5% from the 1.990 million net tons recorded in May. However, the June permit volume was 5.8% lower than the final steel import total of 2.186 million net tons reported for May.

Permit applications for finished steel totaled 1.478 million net tons in June, a 5.6% decline from the 1.566 million net tons of finished steel imported in May.

For the first six months of 2026, including June permit data and finalized May imports, total steel imports reached 11.247 million net tons, while finished steel imports totaled 8.181 million net tons. Compared with the same period in 2025, total imports declined 23.1% and finished steel imports fell 24.3%.

AISI estimated that finished steel imports accounted for 17% of the U.S. market in June, with the year-to-date market share remaining at 16%.

Among individual product categories, import permit applications recorded the largest month-on-month increases for line pipe, which rose 94% from May’s final imports. Hot-rolled sheet imports increased 39%, followed by cut-length plate (31%), cold-rolled sheet (20%) and structural pipe and tubing (18%).

On a year-to-date basis, standard rails posted the strongest growth, with imports rising 97% from the first half of 2025. Other products showing notable increases included heavy structural shapes (58%), structural pipe and tubing (12%) and reinforcing bars (11%).

South Korea remained the largest source of U.S. steel import permit applications in June at 405,000 net tons, up 2% from May’s final import volume. It was followed by Canada with 298,000 net tons (+6%), Vietnam with 223,000 net tons (+57%), Mexico with 194,000 net tons (+5%) and Brazil with 133,000 net tons, representing a 60% decline from May.

During the first half of 2026, South Korea remained the leading steel supplier to the U.S. market with 1.978 million net tons, an increase of 36% from the same period last year. Canada ranked second with 1.576 million net tons, down 44%, while Brazil supplied 1.393 million net tons, a decline of 46% year on year.

Source: AISI

SUNSHINE Spotlight: U.S. steel import permits edged higher in June, but year-to-date imports remained well below 2025 levels, with finished steel maintaining an estimated 16% share of the domestic market.