Source: American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) press release, 24 September 2026, based on preliminary US Census Bureau data; also reported by Mysteel
The United States imported 2,345,954 net tons of steel in August 2026, an increase of 3.4 percent compared with July, according to preliminary Census Bureau data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Finished steel imports rose 2.2 percent month-on-month to 1,599,537 net tons. Despite the second consecutive monthly increase, the cumulative picture for 2026 remains markedly weaker than a year earlier: total imports were down 15.1 percent and finished imports down 18.5 percent for January-August versus the same period of 2025. Finished steel products were estimated to hold 17.5 percent of the US market in August, against an average share of roughly 16 percent over the first eight months of the year.
South Korea retained its position as the largest source of US steel imports in August, shipping about 407,000 net tons even though its volume fell 27 percent from July. Brazil ranked second at 351,000 net tons after a 39 percent monthly jump, followed by Canada at 296,000 net tons (up 6 percent), Mexico at 254,000 net tons (up 32 percent) and Vietnam at 159,000 net tons (up 4 percent). The twelve-month snapshot shows a pronounced shift in the supplier mix: between September 2025 and August 2026, Korean shipments reached 3.66 million net tons, up 32 percent, and Vietnamese volumes rose 22 percent to 1.31 million net tons, while deliveries from Canada, Brazil and Mexico fell by 41, 28 and 37 percent respectively.
By product category, flat-rolled materials drove the August rebound. Imports of hot-rolled sheet surged 64 percent from July, plate in coil climbed 31 percent, and hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip advanced 21 percent. Over the trailing twelve months, heavy structural shapes recorded one of the largest gains, rising 55 percent compared with the previous twelve-month period, reflecting continued demand from construction and infrastructure applications.
The figures suggest a modest near-term recovery in inbound volumes rather than a reversal of this year's contraction, as import penetration stays well below 2025 levels. For US mills, the shifting pattern matters because imported finished steel competes directly with domestic output, while for exporters such as South Korea and Vietnam the data confirm a growing foothold in the American market even as North American suppliers retreat.
