AISI: U.S. Steel Import Permits Edge Down in September as Finished Steel Volumes Rise

October 12, 2026

U.S. steel import permit applications totaled 2.492 million net tons (NT) in September 2026, down 0.2% from August, while permits for finished steel imports increased 2.1% to 1.671 million NT, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), citing the Commerce Department’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data.

September’s total permit volume was 0.9% below the final August import total of 2.515 million NT. For the first nine months of 2026, total steel imports reached 18.567 million NT, down 8.5% from the same period in 2025. Finished steel imports fell 13.5% year over year to 13.042 million NT.

AISI estimated that finished steel accounted for 19% of the U.S. market in September, compared with a year-to-date share of 16%.

Several product categories recorded sharp month-on-month increases in September permit applications compared with August’s final import figures. Standard rails rose 244%, railroad accessories increased 114%, and tool steel climbed 103%. Permits for galvanized and electrolytic sheets and strip increased 79%, while ingots and steel for castings rose 76% and pressure tubing increased 75%.

Year to date, imports of pipe for piling increased 143% from the same period in 2025. Ingots and steel for castings rose 112%, standard rails increased 83%, and heavy structural shapes climbed 63%.

South Korea was the largest source of September steel import permit applications at 461,000 NT, up 7.5% from August’s final imports. Mexico followed with 311,000 NT, up 23%, while Brazil supplied 279,000 NT, down 20.5%. Canada accounted for 255,000 NT, down 14%, and Vietnam supplied 195,000 NT, up 23%.

For January through September, South Korea remained the largest supplier at 3.4 million NT, up 54% year over year. Canada ranked second at 2.405 million NT, down 35%, followed by Brazil at 2.389 million NT, down 28%.

Source: The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

SUNSHINE Spotlight: U.S. steel import permits dipped slightly in September, but finished steel permits rose 2.1% month-on-month as the estimated finished steel import market share reached 19%.