Wire rod final imports to the U.S. were up 1.2% in 2017, year on year (y/y), totaling 1,889,860 tons for the twelve months ending December 2017. December’s tonnage was 36,716 tons, 76.7% lower than the YTD average volume of 157,488 tons.

Merchant final imports to the U.S. were up 1.2% in 2017, year on year (y/y), totaling 541,630 tons for the twelve months ending December 2017. December merchant imports came in at 28,433 tons, 37.0% less than the 45,135 ton 2017 average volume.

Rebar final imports to the U.S. were down 25.8% year on year (y/y), totaling 1,566,308 tons for the 12 months ending December 2017. December rebar imports were 52,791 tons, 59.6% lower than the average of 130,526 tons.

For all of 2017, Beam final imports to the U.S. were down 4.3% year on year (y/y), totaling 534,488 tons. For the month of December, Beam imports totaled 33,431 tons down 24.9% from the YTD average of 44,540 tons.

Merchant licenses, (representing 10 HTS codes), through January 24^th totaled 42,143 tons, down 34,292 tons or 43.5% from last year’s 74,635 tons. Overall merchant import licensed tons in 2017 were higher year on year.

Rebar licenses through January 24^th totaled 97,878 tons, about one half of the January 2017 level of 200,442 tons. Straight lengths accounts for all but 22 tons of the licensed import thus far this month. Overall rebar import licensed tons in 2017 were lower than in 2016.