Posted on 11 Jun 2026
The United States imported around 1.73 million tonnes of steel products in April, up 123,262 tonnes or 7.7% from March, though the volume remained 8.3% lower on year, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau under the Department of Commerce (DoC).
The on-month increase was partly linked to overseas suppliers rushing shipments in early April to avoid higher tariff penalties, after Washington significantly raised the tariff base for steel imports effective April 6, Mysteel Global notes.
Under the new rule, the additional ad valorem duties on steel products shifted from applying only to the value of the metal content to applying to the full Customs value of imported products, regardless of metal content, as reported.
Industry sources also note that American steel buyers are signaling stronger interest in foreign material amid tight domestic supply.
The average import price for steel products stood at $1,016/tonne in April, up 1.8% from March, while the average price for the January-April period was $1,002/tonne, down 11.8% year-on-year, according to Mysteel calculations based on DoC data.
Mexico, Germany, and Argentina accounted for most of the on-month increase in US steel imports in April.
The U.S. imported 170,642 tonnes of steel products from Mexico during the month, up 33.7% on month, the DoC statistics indicate. Imports from Germany surged 97.2% to 68,136 tonnes, nearly doubling from March, as European mills potentially sought alternative outlets amid weak domestic demand.
Meanwhile, U.S. steel imports from Argentina skyrocketed 300,277.8% on month to 27,034 tonnes, though the astronomical increase is attributed to an extremely low base in the prior month.
On the other hand, Brazil and Turkey saw the steepest declines. U.S. imports from Brazil fell 26.1% on month to 195,354 tonnes in April, the statistics suggest, while shipments from Turkey plunged 56.7% on month to just 22,753 tonnes, the data show.
Source:Mysteel Global
