Monday, 20 Apr 2009
The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released the first statistical data on imports, US consumption, and import penetration for 2009. The data represents US consumption, imports, and import penetration for YTD January 2009 as compared to the same 2008 one month period. The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:

1. Stainless steel sheet per trip: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 20,156 tons, a 50.1% decrease compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 69,265 tons, a 41.7% decrease and one month import penetration was 29.1%, a 4.9 percentage point decrease from 2008.

2. Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 4,887 tons, a 24.5% decrease compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 12,816 tons, a 17.4% decrease and one month import penetration was 38.1%, a 3.6 percentage point decrease from 2008.

3. Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 7,909 tons, a 12.6% decrease compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 14,871 tons, a 19.2% decrease and one month import penetration was 53.2%, a 4.1 percentage point increase from 2008.

4. Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 1,248 tons, a 46% decrease as compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 2,365 tons, a 54.1% decrease and one month import penetration was 52.8%, a 7.9 percentage point increase from 2008.

5. Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 2,880 tons, a 14.5% decrease as compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 3,718 tons, a 40.1% decrease and one month import penetration was 77.5%, a 23.2 percentage point increase from 2008.

6. Imports of total stainless steel in YTD January 2009 were 37,080 tons, a 39.8% decrease as compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 103,035 tons, a 37.2% decrease and one month import penetration was 36.0%, a 1.5 percentage point decrease from 2008.

7. Alloy tool steel: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 5,184 tons, a 53.7% decrease as compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption and import penetration were not calculable.

8. Electrical steel: Imports in YTD January 2009 were 8,542 tons, a 33.2% decrease compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 26,698 tons, a 31% decrease from January 2008 and one month import penetration was 32.0%, a 1.1 percentage point decrease from 2008.

9. Imports of total specialty steel in YTD January 2009 were 50,806 tons, a 40.6% decrease compared to YTD January 2008, US consumption was 133,788 tons, a 37.2% decrease and one month import penetration was 38%, a 2.2 percentage point decrease from 2008.