U.S. Steel Imports Show Mixed Trends in April, According to AISI Data

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has released its monthly Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) report, providing new insights into the state of steel imports for the month of April. According to the data from the U.S. Commerce Department, steel import permits totaled 2,208,000 net tons (NT), marking an 8.1% decrease from the 2,403,000 tons recorded in March. The final imports for March were slightly higher at 2,501,000 tons, reflecting a drop of 11.7% in April compared to the final imports.

Of particular interest is the finished steel import market, which totaled 1,659,000 tons in April, representing a 9.0% drop from the March final imports of 1,823,000 tons. Looking at the first four months of 2025, the total steel imports stood at 10,020,000 tons, while finished steel imports reached 7,415,000 tons, showing year-over-year declines of 3.1% and 4.4%, respectively.

Despite these declines, the finished steel import market share remained notable, with April’s share estimated at 20%. Year-to-date, this market share stands at 22%, showing some consistency in the proportion of the steel market that is supplied through imports.

The report highlights a few key products with strong performance in April compared to March. Among the products with the largest increases in permits are oil country goods (up 36%), tin plate (up 34%), black plate (up 26%), light shapes bars (up 16%), and wire rods (up 12%). Notably, tin plate saw a remarkable 79% increase in year-to-date performance compared to 2024, as well as a 62% increase in line pipe imports, suggesting a resurgence in demand for specific steel products.

Top Suppliers:

The countries supplying the most steel to the U.S. in April saw varied results. Canada remained the largest supplier with 399,000 tons, though this represented a 19% decline from March. Brazil followed closely with 368,000 tons (down 14%), while South Korea (224,000 tons, down 12%), Mexico (205,000 tons, down 47%), and Germany (110,000 tons, down 5%) rounded out the top five suppliers for the month.

Year-to-date data indicates that Canada remains the largest supplier, providing 2,024,000 tons, a 14% decrease compared to the same period last year. Brazil, however, experienced a slight 4% increase in its shipments to the U.S., amounting to 1,828,000 tons. Mexico’s imports also decreased by 6% to 1,344,000 tons.

While the overall decline in steel imports suggests a cooling in demand, specific product categories such as oil country goods and tin plate are showing strong growth. The figures presented in the SIMA report are based on import permit applications and do not reflect actual import volumes, which will be available in more detailed data later this month, according to AISI.

The steel industry continues to face challenges amidst global market fluctuations, including the economic ripple effects of the ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade policy adjustments. As the U.S. economy adjusts, so too does the demand for specific steel products, with some markets seeing resilience despite overall declines.

Source: AISI