Global steel flows to the United States underwent a dramatic reconfiguration in 2025, as revealed by the latest AISI analysis of Census Bureau statistics released Thursday. While total imports contracted by 12.6 percent to 25,241,000 net tons and finished steel by 17.1 percent to 18,665,000 net tons, India’s contribution ballooned by 118.3 percent to 553,000 net tons.
December figures showed 1,577,000 net tons total (finished: 1,160,000), down 3.8 percent overall but up 6.9 percent in finished steel from November. Annual finished steel market share settled at 18 percent, with December at 14 percent.
India’s December dispatch of 42,000 net tons was 10.1 percent below November’s but capped a stellar year. Major suppliers faltered: Canada at 4,524,000 net tons (-31% YoY), Brazil 4,126,000 (-8%), Mexico 2,823,000 (-19.7%), South Korea 2,662,000 (-5.3%), Germany 1,128,000 (+5%).
Monthly toppers in December: Brazil (257,000 net tons, +4.1%), Canada (234,000, -9%), South Korea (167,000, +1.3%), Mexico (137,000, -17.4%), Japan (109,000, +52.6%). Import spikes hit reinforcing bar (+135% MoM), cut-length plates (+68%), plates in coil (+44.6%), hot-rolled bar (+38.9%), and structural shapes (+37.3%).
Yearly gainers included tin plate (+24.3%), line pipe (+18.5%), wire rod (+13.2%), and oil country goods (+12.6%). These trends, set against heightened scrutiny of trade policies and supply vulnerabilities, affirm steel’s pivotal role in US infrastructure, vehicles, energy infrastructure, and building projects. India’s ascent points to resilient production and savvy market penetration.