Rebar final imports to the U.S. were down 31.5% in 2018, year on year (y/y), totaling 811,809 tons YTD ending July 2018. July 2018 Rebar final imports came in at 150,874 tons, significantly higher than the 47,953 tons in June.

There are three HTS codes that contribute to our definition of Rebar. These include: Coil Rebar. = 4,336 tons, Straight Rebar = 144,040 tons, and Other Rebar = 2,498 for July 2018

Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order for both 2018 and 2017. Turkey was the largest exporter at 293,872 tons, down 66.2% from the 869,659 ton volume in YTD July 2017. Turkish imports accounted for 7.9% of the YTD total in July 2018.

Italy brought-in 166,474 tons of rebar to the U.S. market YTD, up significantly from 18,042 tons this same period in 2017. Portugal with 31,166 tons, down 61.9 % y/y. Peru exported 34,813 tons of rebar to the U.S., down 4.7% y/y. Mexico exported 60,320 tons, up significantly from 3,884 from this same period in 2017.

Table 1 shows the entry port into the U.S. for both July 2018 and January 2017 and the percentage change y/y.

Miami was the largest receiving port for July 2018, receiving 51,205 tons, up significantly m/m from the 1,116 tons in June. Houston-Galveston offloaded 24,767 tons in July, up 53.3% m/m. Tampa ranked third with 22,538 tons up significantly m/m from the 5,905 tons in June. New Orleans brought-in 19,951 tons, up m/m from 0 tons in June. Philadelphia took-in 11,522 tons of rebar this July, increasing m/m from 5,479 tons in June.

Of the seventeen ports, the top five ports represented 86.2% of all imports. The other twelve ports combined to receive 20,891 tons of rebar imports in July 2018, 13.8% of the total volume in July 2018.

At Gerdau we closely follow trade in long products steel since it has a profound impact on domestic market share and material pricing. We want you, our valued customers to have access to current information that can help you better plan and operate your businesses.