US steel import permits surge in July 2026

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that U.S. steel import permit applications for July 2026 reached 2.294 million net tons, a 10.1% increase from June and the highest level since May 2025. The estimated finished‑steel import market share for July was 18%, up from 16% year‑to‑date.

South Korea remained the top source with 514,000 nt of permits, followed by Mexico (327,000 nt), Canada (279,000 nt), Brazil (180,000 nt) and Vietnam (156,000 nt). Overall imports had declined earlier in the year but are now rebounding, with the three‑month moving average approaching a 10‑month high.

The data, derived from the Commerce Department’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system, reflect applications for import licenses and not actual shipment volumes, but they signal a notable recovery in U.S. steel demand after a period of weakness.