The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), based on preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau, announced that the United States imported a total of 1.874 million net tons of steel in April 2026. Of this amount, 1.378 million net tons consisted of finished steel products. These figures indicate a 5.9% increase in total steel imports and a 5.5% increase in finished steel imports compared to March 2026.
However, when evaluated on a year-to-date basis, import volumes declined. During the first four months of 2026, total steel imports decreased by 29.5% compared to the same period of 2025, while finished steel imports fell by 30.5%.
A similar trend was observed during the 12-month period from May 2025 to April 2026. During this period, total steel imports declined by 21.5% compared to the previous 12-month period, while finished steel imports recorded a decrease of 25.8%.
The final steel import market share in April was estimated at 16%, while the average share for the first four months of 2026 was reported at 15%.
By product category, some import increases in April were particularly strong compared to March. Tin plate imports rose by 126%, while imports of other metallic-coated sheet and strip increased by 56%. Rebar imports recorded a 46% increase, cold-rolled sheet imports rose by 39%, and hot-rolled bar imports increased by 30%.
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