Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 15% from 878,000 short tons in January to 744,000 tons in February. Flat products imports in February 2016 were 860,000 tons and in February 2015 they were 1,254,000 tons.
Imports of all flat products categories fell between January and February, though the largest declines came from hot roll and hot dip galvanized imports. Hot roll imports decreased mainly from Canada and Mexico and hot dip galvanized imports fell from many countries including Brazil, Korea, and Canada.
SIMA US flat products imports licenses and actuals
January 2013 to February 2017
short tons
In other news… Safety in the steel industry is the #1 concern of all employees. It gets thoughtful and sensitive treatment in a current Italian theater production “Acciaio Liquido” (liquid steel) viewed by Nerdsofsteel. The show highlights the causes and responsibilities surrounding the ThyssenKrupp Turin fire that killed seven employees in December 2007. It helps the audience understand how such a tragedy can occur and how a focus on safety by managers, steelworkers, their families and the community as a whole is needed to help avoid such tragedies in future.
China accounted for 49% of world output in January with production of 67.2 million tonnes, up 7.4% compared to January 2016. Asian crude production outside of China increased by 6.1% driven by a 12.0% increase in India. European Union production grew 2.4% while Turkish output rose 12.8% and Russian production increased 11.6%. In the Americas, US output increased 6.5% compared to last January and Brazilian production grew 14.4%.
All the data for January 2017 and for a number of prior years can be found in the Nerds spreadsheet below.
Gerdau and Ternium released Q4 and full year 2016 earnings this week. Average EBITDA per ton for both companies rose in 2016 as compared to 2015. Gerdau’s EBITDA per ton rose from $58 to $70 and Ternium’s jumped from $98 to $144. Ternium’s average EBITDA per ton for 2016 ($144) was the highest among the companies we track, just edging out Steel Dyanmics which averaged $136. More detail can be found in the spreadsheet behind the graph below.
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 21% from 365,000 short tons in December to 441,000 tons in January. Long products imports in January 2016 were 412,000 tons and in January 2015 they were 403,000 tons. The increase between December and January was mainly due to higher rebar imports from Turkey, though rebar imports also rose significantly from Japan.
SIMA US long products imports and actuals
2012 to 2017
short tons
Worldsteel reported Chinese crude steel production at 67.2 million metric tonnes in January, 7.4% higher than in January 2016. China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in January were 6.3 million tonnes, 28.1% lower than in January 2016 and the lowest level since April 2014.
China monthly crude steel production
January 2005 to January 2017, thousand metric tonnes
Dandong Iron Bridge China Bridge Steel
