U.S. Steel Import Permits Fall in September as Finished Steel Market Share Drops to 14%

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA), U.S. steel import permit applications in September totaled 1.65 million net tons (NT). This represented a 12% decline from August’s permit levels and an 11.5% decrease compared with preliminary imports for the same month, AISI reported. Finished steel permit applications reached 1.25 million NT, down 11% from August, which indicates a continued softening in import activity. For the first nine months of 2025, total steel import permits amounted to 20.38 million NT, while finished steel permits reached 15.15 million NT, falling 8.5% and 12.2%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2024. According to AISI, the estimated finished steel import market share in September was 14%, with a year-to-date share of 19%.

Certain steel products showed significant permit increases in September compared with August preliminary data. Hot-dipped electrolytic galvanized sheet and strip surged 208%, line pipe rose 48%, structural pipe and tubing gained 41%, tin plate increased 14%, and hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip climbed 13%, AISI noted. On a year-to-date basis, stainless pipe and tube, tin plate, line pipe, wire rods, and tin-free steel had risen notably, with gains of 48%, 39%, 23%, 18%, and 17%, respectively.

The largest steel import permit applications in September came from Canada, totaling 318,000 NT, up 5% from August preliminary imports. Brazil followed with 241,000 NT, down 10%; South Korea, 233,000 NT, up 32%; Mexico, 127,000 NT, down 35%; and Germany, 87,000 NT, up 15%. For the first nine months of 2025, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico remained the top suppliers, although all recorded declines compared with 2024, according to AISI.

Industry observers noted that the decline in steel import permits coincides with broader economic cooling, higher interest rates, and elevated domestic inventory levels. At the same time, rising permit applications in certain categories, such as galvanized products and line pipe, suggest that investments in manufacturing and infrastructure remain resilient. Analysts also highlighted that trade flows continue to be shaped by global pricing volatility, geopolitical developments, and evolving regulatory requirements, including environmental compliance.

According to reports, September’s data reflect a continued rebalancing of the U.S. steel market after last year’s elevated import activity, showing mixed signals across product categories and trading partners.

Source: American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

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