U.S. Sees Sharp Decline in Steel Imports in February 2025
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In February 2025, U.S. steel companies significantly cut imports of rolled metal products by 29.6% month-on-month, totaling 1.62 million tons, according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Overall steel imports, including both rolled and semi-finished products, dropped by 27.2% from January, reaching 2.23 million tons.
Among rolled steel imports, hot-dip galvanized flat products led with 173,040 tons, down 18.4% from January, followed by hot-rolled flat products at 150,560 tons (a 14.8% year-on-year decline) and cold-rolled flat products at 131,810 tons (down 31% year-on-year). Finished products comprised 72.6% of total steel imports for the month.
Despite the February slump, U.S. imports of rolled steel for January-February 2025 rose by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 3.93 million tons. Total steel imports, including semi-finished products, reached 5.31 million tons, up 5.7% year-on-year. Hot-dip galvanized flat products topped the list at 384,970 tons (down 14.5% year-on-year), followed by oil industry products at 375,740 tons (up 7.2% year-on-year) and hot-rolled flat products at 327,250 tons (down 7.1% year-on-year). Canada, Brazil, and Mexico remained the primary suppliers, delivering 1.13 million tons (down 2.9% year-on-year), 1.03 million tons (up 5.8% year-on-year), and 751,000 tons (up 3.9% year-on-year), respectively.
Looking back at 2024, the U.S. increased rolled steel imports by 3.7% from 2023, reaching 22.5 million tons, while total steel imports grew by 2.5% to 28.86 million tons, as reported by GMK Center. Canada, Brazil, and Mexico dominated as suppliers last year, with volumes of 6.56 million tons, 4.49 million tons, and 3.52 million tons, respectively. However, domestic steel production in 2024 dipped by 2.4% to 79.5 million tons, against a global output of 1.84 billion tons (down 0.9% year-on-year), keeping the U.S. among the world’s top ten steel producers, per World Steel data.
The February downturn reflects a volatile start to 2025 for U.S. steel imports, even as year-to-date figures show growth over 2024, highlighting shifting dynamics in global trade and domestic demand.
In February 2025, U.S. steel companies significantly cut imports of rolled metal products by 29.6% month-on-month, totaling 1.62 million tons, according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Overall steel imports, including both rolled and semi-finished products, dropped by 27.2% from January, reaching 2.23 million tons.
Among rolled steel imports, hot-dip galvanized flat products led with 173,040 tons, down 18.4% from January, followed by hot-rolled flat products at 150,560 tons (a 14.8% year-on-year decline) and cold-rolled flat products at 131,810 tons (down 31% year-on-year). Finished products comprised 72.6% of total steel imports for the month.
Despite the February slump, U.S. imports of rolled steel for January-February 2025 rose by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 3.93 million tons. Total steel imports, including semi-finished products, reached 5.31 million tons, up 5.7% year-on-year. Hot-dip galvanized flat products topped the list at 384,970 tons (down 14.5% year-on-year), followed by oil industry products at 375,740 tons (up 7.2% year-on-year) and hot-rolled flat products at 327,250 tons (down 7.1% year-on-year). Canada, Brazil, and Mexico remained the primary suppliers, delivering 1.13 million tons (down 2.9% year-on-year), 1.03 million tons (up 5.8% year-on-year), and 751,000 tons (up 3.9% year-on-year), respectively.
Looking back at 2024, the U.S. increased rolled steel imports by 3.7% from 2023, reaching 22.5 million tons, while total steel imports grew by 2.5% to 28.86 million tons, as reported by GMK Center. Canada, Brazil, and Mexico dominated as suppliers last year, with volumes of 6.56 million tons, 4.49 million tons, and 3.52 million tons, respectively. However, domestic steel production in 2024 dipped by 2.4% to 79.5 million tons, against a global output of 1.84 billion tons (down 0.9% year-on-year), keeping the U.S. among the world’s top ten steel producers, per World Steel data.
The February downturn reflects a volatile start to 2025 for U.S. steel imports, even as year-to-date figures show growth over 2024, highlighting shifting dynamics in global trade and domestic demand.
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