American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data based on Commerce Department figures indicated August steel import permit applications reached 2.499 million net tons, increasing by 8.9% from July. Finished steel import permit tonnage totaled 1.694 million, representing an estimated 18% market share for August.

Total and finished steel imports for the first eight months of 2026 reached 16.06 million net tons and 11.43 million net tons, decreasing by 14.3% and 17.8% compared to the prior year, respectively.

In August, leading import suppliers included South Korea at 418,000 net tons, Brazil at 368,000 net tons, and Canada at 284,000 net tons.