Based on reported import licenses, flat products imports into the US declined 19% from 433,000 short tons in April to 351,000 tons in May. This compares to 816,000 tons of flat products imports in September 2008 when we started collecting the license data.
Cut plate, hot roll, cold roll, and hot dip galvanized imports all declined but most significantly cold roll imports dropped 43% to 63,000 tons and hot dip galvanized imports dropped 26% to 86,000 tons. Cold roll imports declined from Brazil, Belgium, Russia and Australia. Hot Dip galvanized imports declined from India, Mexico, and Australia but increased from Korea and China.
Licenses recorded up to June 16th were 127,000 tons which implies that full-month June imports will be lower than May’s.