Steel mill product imports increased 2.8 percent in April over March, according to the government's preliminary import data. 'These import arrivals from non-NAFTA countries reflect slowly improving market conditions at the beginning of the year' said David Phelps, president, AIIS.

Imports for the first four months of the year were 21.5 percent over the same 2010 period.' 'We are gratified to see continued strength in the US steel market, as reflected by improving imports and domestic shipments through the four month data we have.' While a current soft patch has reduced current order taking for imports and therefore expectations for import arrivals a few months out, actual consumption appears not to be much affected and we are optimistic that market steel conditions will re-strengthen in coming months, to the benefit of both domestic and import suppliers to the customer base,' concluded Phelps.

Total Steel imports in April 2011 were 2.553 million tons compared to 2.465 million'tons in March 2011, a 2.8 percent increase, and a 21.9 percent increase compared to April 2010. According to year-to-date figures, imports increased 21.5 percent compared to 2010 or from' 7. 377 million tons in 2010 to 8.960 million tons in 2011. The data show that imported semifinished products increased by 54.6 percent in April 2011 compared to March 2010. For the year-to-date period, semifinished imports increased from 1,541 million tons in 2010 to 2,050 ''million tons in 2011, a 33%percent increase based on preliminary reporting.