US Steel Imports Rise 3.4% in August Despite Yearly Drop

US steel imports ticked up in August, according to the latest figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute. Total inbound shipments rose 3.4% month-on-month to reach 2.34 million short tons, though this figure remains 15.1% below the volume recorded in August 2025.

Finished rolled steel accounted for 1.6 million short tons of the August total, a 2.2% bump compared to July, but an 18.5% drop year-on-year. The institute estimates that imported rolled steel captured a 17.5% share of the domestic market in August, bringing the average market share for the first eight months of 2026 to 16%.

The strongest month-on-month gains were driven by hot-rolled sheet and coil, as well as hot-dip galvanized sheets and strip.

These import numbers follow July performance data showing US steel mills shipped 8.22 million short tons, a 3.7% decline from June. However, overall mill shipments for the first seven months of 2026 were still up 5.3% compared to the same period last year.

According to GMK Center, total US steel imports in July had reached 2.26 million short tons (with rolled steel comprising 1.56 million tons), representing month-on-month increases of 7.4% and 6.3% respectively over June levels.