Total imports in January were 2.34 million tons based on preliminary reporting.' 'The steel market remains depressed, and arrivals reflect that hard reality as imports continue to slow from non-NAFTA countries, with exceptions from countries supplying slabs and hot rolled for US foreign-owned operations, such as Russia and the EU,' explained David Phelps, president, AIIS.

'With hot end operations in the US operating at low capacity, internationally integrated companies will continue to ship slabs and other steel products such as hot rolled sheet to their US operations as demand justifies,' said Phelps.'

'AIIS, based on its monthly importer survey, expects arrivals to continue at depressed levels for some months to come.' We remain optimistic that the stimulus legislation may breathe some life into the steel market in the second half of the year,' concluded Phelps.

Total Steel imports in January 2009 were 2.34 million tons compared to 2.07 million tons in December 2008, a 13.3% increase, and a 12.2% decrease compared to January 2008.' The data show that imported semi finished products decreased by 55.1% in January 2008 as compared to January 2009 from .463 million tons in 2008 to .208 million tons in 2009, based on preliminary reporting.