Steel Imports Jump in May over April, But YTD Market Share Still Low: AISI
Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Wednesday that the United States imported a total of 2,117,000 net tons (nt) of steel in May 2026, including 1,554,000 nt of finished steel (up 11.2% each, respectively, versus April 2026). Total and finished steel imports, nonetheless, are down 26.3% and 26.8%, respectively, year-to-date versus 2025.
Over the 12-month period June 2025 to May 2026, total and finished steel imports are down 21.6% and 25.2%, respectively, versus the prior 12-month period. AISI said the finished steel import market share was an estimated 17% in May and is estimated at 16% over the first five months of 2026.
“The May steel import data appears to reflect the tightness of the spot market for domestic hot band,” a steel distributor told WSD. “Some simply need the steel, especially HRC; and if they can’t get it in the US spot market, they gotta do what they gotta do.”
In fact, hot-rolled sheet was among the steel products with a significant import jump in May compared to April — up 128%. On a year-to-date basis, however, HR sheet imports are down 50% compared to 2025.
Other steel products with import gains in May were plate-in-coil (up 78%), oil country goods (up 45%), hot-rolled bar (up 29%) and rebar (up 21%). Cold-rolled sheet imports, however, were down 17.5% in May versus April.
In May, the largest suppliers were South Korea (399,000 nt, up 37% vs. April), Brazil (331,000 nt, up 54%), Canada (281,000 nt, up 5%), Mexico (185,000 nt, down 1%) and Japan (142,000 nt, up 91%).
Over the 12-month period June 2025 to May 2026, the largest suppliers were Canada (3,340,000 nt, down 45% compared to the previous 12-months), Brazil (3,227,000 nt, down 28%), South Korea (2,964,000 nt, up 7%), Mexico (2,152,000 nt, down 36%) and Japan (1,083,000 nt, down 5%).