Steel imports declined by 13.6% in June compared to May, but were up by nearly 130% compared to June 2009.' 'These import data show that the steel market has not recovered its strength in 2010, with imports from most major suppliers showing declines in June compared to May 2010.' Current, stubbornly high levels of unemployment and low levels of non-residential construction are clearly depressing the steel market and delaying a full economic recovery,' said David Phelps, president, AIIS.

'While imports for the first half of 2010 are 35% above recession levels of 2009, nearly two thirds of those increased imports are semifinished steel for use by the domestic industry itself, responding to improvement in conditions from 2009, but showing caution regarding re-starting idle furnaces.' Most steel consumers in 2010, remembering the financial problems of overbuilt inventory when the market collapsed in 2008, are living on minimal inventories this year, which is further depressing market conditions at this time,' concluded Phelps.

Total Steel imports in June 2010 were 1.98 million tons compared to 2.29 million'tons in May 2010, a 13.6%'decrease, and a 130% increase compared to June 2009. According to year-to-date figures, imports increased 35.1% compared to 2009 or from 8.6 million tons in 2009 to 11.7 million tons in 2010. The data show that imported semifinished products increased by 760.8% in June 2010 as compared to June 2009. For the year-to-date period, semifinished imports increased from 567 thousand tons in 2009 to 2,485 thousand tons in 2010, a 338.3% increase, based on preliminary reporting.