September US import figures are on track to be the lowest in the past 12 months, Kallanish learns from US Department of Commerce data.

According to license data collected through 25 September, the US has granted licenses for about 1.49 million tonnes of steel imports – well below the previous 12-month low set last December at 1.72mt.

While there are still five days left in the month to collect and tally imports, license figures are generally higher than the department’s preliminary and final tallies.

While several products appear to have taken sharp on-month drops – notably cold-rolled sheet, rebar, and oil country tubular goods – line pipe imports appear to have fallen hardest.

US line pipe imports for September sit at just 84,883mt – down from 131,682mt in August and the first month to drop below 100,000mt in at least the last 14 months.