AISI: U.S. Finished Steel Imports Held Near 15% Market Share in December, 2025

U.S. steel import permit applications edged lower in December 2025, while finished steel inflows rose sharply month on month, keeping imports at roughly 15% of the domestic market, data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute showed, based on the Commerce Department’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis system.

Total steel import permits for December reached 1.67 million net tons, slightly below November levels, but finished steel permits climbed to 1.21 million net tons, an increase of more than 11% from the prior month’s finalized import figures. Analysts say the divergence reflects ongoing volatility in downstream demand rather than a broad rebound in overall steel imports.

On an annual basis, the data point to a clear contraction. Full-year 2025 steel imports totaled about 25.3 million net tons, while finished steel imports came in at 18.7 million net tons, both down sharply from 2024. Industry observers note that weaker manufacturing activity, elevated interest rates, and trade enforcement measures continued to weigh on import volumes throughout the year.

Despite the overall decline, December permit data showed sharp spikes in several product categories. Reinforcing bar permits more than tripled compared with November’s final imports, while wire rods, plate in coils, heavy structural shapes, and hot-rolled bars also recorded sizable increases. Analysts caution that permit data can reflect timing effects and inventory restocking rather than sustained demand growth.

Looking at the full year, stainless pipe and tube, tin plate, line pipe, wire rods, and oil country tubular goods posted year-on-year gains. Industry groups argue that these increases mirror pockets of resilience tied to energy infrastructure, packaging demand, and niche industrial applications, even as broader construction and manufacturing activity softened.

By country, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, and Japan accounted for the largest shares of December steel import permits. South Korea stood out with a notable month-on-month increase, while shipments from Canada and Brazil declined. Over the full year, Canada remained the top supplier, followed by Brazil and Mexico, though all three recorded double-digit percentage declines compared with 2024.

Analysts say the estimated finished steel import market share of 18% for full-year 2025 suggests imports remain structurally important to U.S. supply, even as domestic producers benefit from lower overall foreign volumes. Attention is now turning to early 2026 data to assess whether recent category-specific spikes translate into a broader trend.

Source: AISI

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