US long products imports down 26% in April

by Jessica Wagner on May 20, 2015

in Data

Based on reported import licenses, and after a significant rise in March, US long products imports declined 26% from 583,000 short tons in March to 432,000 tons in April. Long products imports in April 2014 were 410,000 tons and in April 2013 they were 249,000 tons. Long products imports for the first four months of 2015 were 12% higher than in the same period last year.

The decline in April was mainly due to lower rebar imports from Turkey and to a lesser extent from Japan (after imports from these countries increased significantly in March). Wire rod imports also fell, again mainly due to lower volumes from Turkey.

Long products import licenses for May as reported mid-month on May 19th were 225,000 tons which is likely to mean that full-month May longs imports will be a bit lower than April’s.

SIMA US long products import licenses and import actuals
2012 to 2015

short tons