US steel imports declined in June, with both total and finished steel shipments falling month-on-month and remaining well below year-earlier levels, according to preliminary Census Bureau data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Total steel imports reached 2.092 mln net tons (1.898 mln tons) in June, down 4.3pct from May, while finished steel imports fell 6.9pct to 1.457 mln net tons (1.322 mln tons). During the first six months of 2026, total steel imports declined 22.9pct YoY, while finished steel imports were down 24.5pct.
Finished steel imports accounted for an estimated 17pct of the US market in June, with the year-to-date import market share estimated at 16pct.
Despite the overall decline, imports of several steel products increased compared with May, led by line pipe, followed by hot rolled sheets, other metallic-coated sheet and strip, and structural pipe and tubing.
South Korea remained the largest steel supplier to the US in June, shipping 422,000 net tons (383,000 tons), followed by Canada with 294,000 net tons (267,000 tons), Brazil with 245,000 net tons (222,000 tons), Mexico with 191,000 net tons (173,000 tons) and Vietnam with 151,000 net tons (137,000 tons).