Amid fluctuating global markets, 2025 US steel imports told a tale of contraction and selective expansion. AISI’s Thursday release, citing Census Bureau data, reported total imports at 25,241,000 net tons – down 12.6 percent from 2024 – and finished steel at 18,665,000 net tons, a 17.1 percent retreat. December logged 1,577,000 net tons total (1,160,000 finished), easing 3.8 percent month-over-month while finished steel gained 6.9 percent.
Exceptionally, India ramped up deliveries to 553,000 net tons (+118.3% YoY), with December at 42,000 net tons (-10.1% MoM). This contrasts sharply with peers: Canada led at 4,524,000 (-31%), Brazil second at 4,126,000 (-8%), Mexico 2,823,000 (-19.7%), South Korea 2,662,000 (-5.3%), Germany 1,128,000 (+5%).
December’s roster featured Brazil (257,000, +4.1% MoM), Canada (234,000, -9%), South Korea (167,000, +1.3%), Mexico (137,000, -17.4%), and Japan (109,000, +52.6%). Hot segments included reinforcing bar (+135% MoM), cut plates (+68%), coil plates (+44.6%), hot-rolled bar (+38.9%), and shapes (+37.3%).
Over the year, tin plate advanced 24.3 percent, line pipe 18.5 percent, wire rod 13.2 percent, oil goods 12.6 percent. With steel fueling infrastructure investments, auto manufacturing, energy systems, and construction, these patterns reflect adaptive sourcing strategies. India’s breakout growth heralds a new era of diversification in US steel procurement.