Based on reported US import licenses, long products imports in January rose 57% to 280,000 short tons compared to actual December imports of 178,000 tons.
The January increase was mainly due to growth in rebar and sections licenses. Rebar imports grew from December actual levels of 14,000 tons to January licenses of 65,000 tons. Sections imports grew from December actuals of 28,000 tons to historically high January licenses of 86,000 tons, mainly due to licenses for Korea, Taiwan and Germany.
February licenses reported up to 17 February reached only 69,000 tons, however, which should mean that full-month February imports will be low.