Exclusive The US increased imports of rolled steel products by 11.9% m/m in March

Total steel imports increased by 11.4% m/m over the month

In March 2025, US steelmakers increased imports of rolled metal products by 11.9% compared to the previous month, to 1.82 million tons. This is according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Total steel imports (rolled and semi-finished products) increased by 11.4% m/m to 2.49 million tons over the month.

Hot-dip galvanized flat products accounted for the largest imports: 186.11 thousand tons (+7.4% m/m), cold-rolled flat products – 162.79 thousand tons (+23.2% m/m), hot-rolled flat products – 133.18 thousand tons (-11.5% m/m), and products for the oil industry – 158.71 thousand tons (+40.5% m/m). The volume of finished products in total imports for the month amounted to 72.9%.

In January-March, the United States increased imports of rolled products by 1.6% compared to the same period in 2024, to 5.75 million tons. Total steel imports amounted to 7.81 million tons (+3.6% y/y). Hot-dip galvanized flat products accounted for the bulk of supplies – 571.28 thousand tons (-22.4% y/y), products for the oil industry – 534.96 thousand tons (+5.4% y/y), and cold-rolled flat products – 486.05 thousand tons (+4.5% y/y).

The main sources of steel imports to the United States in January-March 2025 are Canada, Brazil and Mexico – 1.62 million tons (-7.8% y/y), 1.46 million tons (+6.9% y/y) and 1.14 million tons (+12.9% y/y), respectively.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2024, the US increased imports of rolled steel by 3.7% compared to 2023, to 22.5 million tons. Total steel imports (rolled products and semi-finished products) increased by 2.5% y/y – to 28.86 million tons. The main sources of steel imports to the United States in 2024 are Canada, Brazil and Mexico – 6.56 million tons, 4.49 million tons and 3.52 million tons, respectively.

US steel production in 2024 fell by 2.4% compared to 2023 to 79.5 million tons. Overall, global steel production for the year amounted to 1.84 billion tons, down 0.9% y/y. Thus, the United States is among the ten largest steel producing countries in the world according to World Steel.