Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 20% from 149,000 short tons in October to 120,000 tons in November, bringing longs imports back to levels of mid-2009. November imports in 2010 were 189,000 tons, in 2009 99,000 tons, in 2008 173,000 tons, and in 2007 235,000 tons.
A fall in wire rod imports drove the overall drop by declining 22,000 tons due to lower volumes from Brazil, Japan, Korea and Mexico. This was after a rise in October wire rod imports from these same countries (excluding Japan) as noted in my earlier post. Imports of all other long products categories also fell.
I will update the spreadsheet below when the next licenses are reported in order to show mid-December license data.