SBQ final imports to the U.S. were up 18.8% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), totaling 393,263 tons for the nine months ending September 2017. September SBQ imports came in at 37,135 tons, 15.0% lower than the 43,695ton YTD average volume.

Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order on a YTD basis through September for both 2016 and 2017.

Canada was the largest exporter with 121,889 tons, up 5.0% YTD y/y. September’s volume at 10,121 tons, was 25.3% less than its 13,543 ton YTD average volume. Germany sent 65,899 tons to the U.S. YTD, up 16.4% y/y. September exports were 7,435 tons, 1.5% greater than the 7,322 ton average for the year. France ranked third YTD with 52,924, up 43.0% YTD y/y. For the month of September, French SBQ exports to the U.S. were 6,527 tons, 13.1% higher than its YTD average of 5,769 tons. Spain exported 25,595 tons YTD, gaining 9.3% YTD y/y. September volume came in at 1,480 tons, 47.9% less than its YTD average volume of 2,843 tons. Brazil sent 21,150 tons of SBQ to the U.S., surging 393% YTD y/y. September volume was 424 tons, down 82.0% compared to its 2,350 ton YTD average volume.

China exported 20,319 tons of SBQ, jumping 78.5% YTD y/y. Volume for the September was 3,449 tons, up 47.5% from its 2,258 ton monthly average over the first nine months of the year. Italy exported 18,030 tons of SBQ products to the U.S. YTD, up 31.3% y/y. September volume was 1,493 tons, 25.5% less than its YTD average of 2,003 tons. Korea sent 14,348 tons, up 16.9% y/y. Volume for the month of September was 1,392 tons, 12.7% below its YTD average of 1,594 tons. The United Kingdom’s YTD volume of SBQ exports to the U.S. was 11,297 tons, 40.1% less than YTD 2016. September’s exports were 894 tons, 28.8% lower than its YTD average of 1,255 tons. Turkey exported 9,512 tons of SBQ to the U.S. through September, advancing 7.0% y/y. Turkey sent 2,033 tons of SBQ bars to the U.S. in September, about half of its YTD average of 1,058 tons.

These top ten countries account for 91.5% of the total SBQ intake. There were 22 other countries that exported a combined 33,300 tons of SBQ YTD 2017. Year to date last year the same 22 country’s total import quantity was 27,105 tons. The top 10 YTD 2016 accounted for 91.8%.

SBQ is broken down into seventeen HTS codes. Leaded coil was the HTS code with the largest import volume at 69,477 tons, up 22.1% YTD y/y. Rounds, (0.25 – 0.6 carbon) came in at 62,771 tons, down 0.1% YTD y/y was the second largest. Rounds, (>3” diameter, 0.25 carbon) at 35,580 tons up 6.1% YTD y/y was the next largest category.

Detroit was the largest receiving port, offloading 110,508 tons YTD, up 13.2% YTD y/y. Chicago held the number two spot with 55,155 tons, gaining 15.4% YTD y/y. Buffalo ranked third with 51,912 tons declining 4.7% YTD y/y. Houston/Galveston was the next largest port bringing in 35,004 tons YTD, an increase of 88.7% YTD y/y. New Orleans, received 29,893 tons, climbing 11.7% YTD y/y. Miami took-in 16,953, YTD y/y, up from just 650 YTD 2016. Miami did not bring in any tons in September. New York was the 7^th largest receiver of U.S. SBQ with 15,363 tons, up 9.6% YTD y/y. St. Albans VT offloaded 14,148 tons, up 35.2% YTD y/y. Mobile was next with 7,503 tons, surging 127% YTD y/y. Rounding-out the top 10 was Savannah, bringing in 7,500 tons, falling 27.6% YTD y/y.

All other ports combined to receive 56,824 tons of SBQ imports thus far in 2017, 14.4% of the total volume YTD. Year to date 2016 the same country’s combined shipments was 57,375 tons very close to the same as this year but representing a higher, (17.3%) of YTD 2016 total SBQ imports.

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.