McLEAN, Va., May 27, 2009 – Imports in April declined another 21% based on preliminary data released today by the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau. “A large decline in imports of OCTG lead the decline in import arrivals. OCTG imports in April were ordered long before the filing of trade cases against OCTG and reflect market conditions late in 2008 and early 2009 after the oil and gas drilling market had collapsed,” said David Phelps, president, AIIS.
“The April data reflect one of the lowest import levels in memory, and the AIIS monthly importer survey continues to show weak demand and so we do not envision a significant improvement in imports in the near term,” concluded Phelps.
Total Steel imports in April 2009 were 1.21 million tons compared to 1.54 million tons in March 2009, a 21.1% decrease, and a 59.2% decrease compared to April 2008. According to year-to-date figures, imports decreased 37.3% compared to 2008 or from 10.70 million tons in 2008 to 6.71 million tons in 2009. The data show that imported semifinished products decreased by 85.7% in April 2009 as compared to April 2008. For the year-to-date period, semifinished imports decreased from 2.23 million tons in 2008 to 497 thousand tons in 2009, a 77.7% decrease, based on preliminary reporting.
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Steel Import Analysis, Preliminary |
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| U.S. Steel Imports |
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| April 2009 | March 2009 | Percent Change | April 2008 | Percent Change | Total | 1,214 | 1,540 | -21.1% | 2,980 | -59.2% | Japan | 122 | 145 | -15.6% | 210 | -41.8% | EU | 244 | 236 | 3.2% | 400 | -39.1% | Canada | 273 | 346 | -21.0% | 778 | -64.9% | Brazil | 31 | 48 | -35.7% | 172 | -82.1% | Korea | 71 | 135 | -47.8% | 211 | -66.6% | Mexico | 144 | 127 | 13.7% | 307 | -53.0% | Russia | 24 | 18 | 34.7% | 137 | -82.3% | China | 99 | 196 | -49.4% | 181 | -45.2% | Australia | 21 | 20 | 4.7% | 59 | -64.5% | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 200.0% | 6 | -50.0% | Indonesia | 1 | 2 | -50.0% | - | #DIV/0! | Turkey | 26 | 90 | -70.6% | 158 | -83.3% | Ukraine | - | 1 | -100.0% | 148 | -100.0% | India | 78 | 83 | -5.7% | 122 | -35.9% | Others | 76 | 92 | -16.9% | 91 | -16.0% |
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| Cumulative Imports |
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| YTD 2009 | YTD 2008 | Percent Change |
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| Total | 6,711 | 10,700 | -37.3% |
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| Japan | 516 | 608 | -15.1% |
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| EU | 1,029 | 1,530 | -32.8% |
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| Canada | 1,204 | 2,911 | -58.6% |
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| Brazil | 189 | 480 | -60.7% |
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| Korea | 617 | 753 | -18.1% |
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| Mexico | 653 | 1,254 | -47.9% |
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| Russia | 327 | 293 | 11.7% |
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| China | 1,004 | 933 | 7.6% |
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| Australia | 95 | 253 | -62.5% |
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| South Africa | 19 | 36 | -47.2% |
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| Indonesia | 3 | 1 | 200.0% |
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| Turkey | 295 | 330 | -10.5% |
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| Ukraine | 34 | 365 | -90.7% |
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| India | 317 | 496 | -36.0% |
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| Others | 408 | 457 | -10.6% |
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| Semifinished Imports |
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| April 2009 | April 2008 | Percent Change |
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| 107 | 751 | -85.7% |
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| YTD 2009 | YTD 2008 | Percent Change |
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| 497 | 2,227 | -77.7% |
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