Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 51% from 136,000 short tons in September to 205,000 tons in October. October 2008 long products imports were 211,000 tons.
Imports of all products increased except light shapes, but as predicted in my earlier post, wire rod imports drove the sharp imports rise by growing 62% from 71,000 tons to 115,000 tons. Again this was mainly due to an increase of 39,000 tons of Turkish wire rod imports. Rebar and structural angles & channels also posted sharply increased imports at 85% and 185% growth over September respectively.
However, long products licenses recorded up to November 17th were only 50,000 tons which means that full-month November imports will be back to the low levels reached in June/July ’09.