Steel imports decline

   The American Institute for International Steel reported Tuesday that steel imports declined by 16.7 percent in November compared to October, according to preliminary government numbers.
   For the year-to-date period, imports decreased from 31.009 million tons in the first 11 months of 2012 to 29.635 million tons in the same period in 2013, a 4.4-percent decrease. 
   “The decline in steel imports was led by declines in arrivals of semi-finished steel products used by the domestic industry to augment their hot-end capacity and OCTG,” stated AIIS Executive Director Richard Chriss. “The weaker level of demand for steel in 2013 compared to 2012 continues to manifest itself in these data, but we believe there are signs that in early 2014 the steel market is beginning a more normal seasonal upswing than experienced in early 2013.”