JOC Staff | Mar 01, 2013 4:03PM EST
U.S. steel imports in January totaled 2.58 million tons, rising 4.6 percent from 2.47 million tons in December 2012, according to the American Institute for International Steel.
“Import levels improved in January in a normal seasonal rebound from the end of the year declines, as many consumers and distributors delay purchases to January due to inventory tax costs at the end of December,” said David Phelps, president of AIIS, in a written statement.
“On the other hand, imports remained almost 8.4 percent below January 2012, reflecting the lower levels of demand as a result of uncertainty at the time these imports are ordered, caused by concerns related to the then looming fiscal cliff,” Phelps added.
The data also showed that imported semi-finished products decreased by 2.8 percent in January compared to the same month in the previous year, falling from 487,000 tons in 2012 to 473,000 in 2013, based on preliminary reporting.
