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MARKETPLACE
Steel Import Permit Applications Increase
15 Percent Over Prior Month
WASHINGTON, DC — Based on the Commerce
Department’s most recent Steel Import Monitoring and
Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute
(AISI) reported today that steel import permit applications
for the month of January totaled 2,474,000 net tons (NT).
This was a 15 percent
increase from the 2,137,000 permit tons recorded in December
2007, and a 25 percent increase from the December preliminary
imports total of 1,977,000 NT. Import permit tonnage for finished
steel in January was 2,024,000 NT, an increase of 28 percent
from the preliminary imports of 1,583,000 NT in December.
For January 2008, the
largest volumes of finished steel import permit applications
for countries outside of North America were China (254,000
NT), Korea (214,000 NT), Japan (112,000 NT), Germany (80,000
NT), India (71,000 NT) and Turkey (69,000 NT). Finished steel
import permit applications for Chinese steel (254,000) were
up 42 percent in January compared to the preliminary imports
total for December. Product categories that experienced particular
increases compared to the December preliminary imports, were:
Rails Standard (up 150 percent); Heavy Structural Shapes (up
147 percent); Reinforcing Bars (up 137 percent); Sheets &
Strip - All Other Metallic (up 105 percent); Oil Country Goods
(up 103 percent); Line Pipe (up 34 percent); Galvanized Hot
Dipped Sheets & Strip (up 31 percent).
“Even though imports
are at a fairly moderate level early in 2008,” AISI
President and CEO Andrew G. Sharkey, III, said, “we
continue to closely monitor several product areas that show
notable increases in the January SIMA data.”
AISI serves as the voice
of the North American steel industry in the public policy
arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as
the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role
in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking
technology.
AISI is comprised of 31
member companies, including integrated and electric furnace
steelmakers, and 130 associate and affiliate members who are
suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member
companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S.
and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel
and its applications, view AISI’s Web site at www.steel.org.
Source: American
Iron and Steel Institute, February 11, 2008
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