The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports,US consumption,and import penetration for YTD August 2012.The data represents US consumption,imports,and import penetration for August 2012 compared to the same 2011 eight month period.

The following data is presented by specialty steel product line,total stainless steel,and total specialty steel:

Stainless steel sheet/strip

Imports in YTD August 2012 were 320,160 tons,a 11.9%increase compared to YTD August 2011;U.S.consumption was 1,163,944 tons,a 5.8%increase;eight month import penetration was 27.5%,a 1.5 percentage point increase from 2011.

Stainless steel plate

Imports in YTD August 2012 were 160,194 tons,a 30.9%increase compared to YTD August 2011;U.S.consumption was 305,897 tons,a 22.3%increase;eight month import penetration was 52.4%,an 3.5 percentage point increase from 2011

Stainless steel bar

Imports in YTD August 2012 were 103,590 tons,a 6.1%increase compared to YTD August 2011;U.S.consumption was 181,067 tons,a 0.9%increase;eight month import penetration was 57.2%,a 2.8 percentage point increase from 2011.

Stainless steel rod

Imports in YTD August 2012 were 21,436 tons,a 9.3%increase compared to YTD August 2011;U.S.consumption was 50,096 tons,a 3.8%decrease;eight month import penetration was 42.8%,a 5.1 percentage point increase from 2011.

Stainless steel wire

Imports in YTD August 2012 were 33,070 tons,a 4.6%increase compared to YTD August 2011;U.S.consumption was 40,515 tons,a 1.7%decrease;eight month import penetration was 81.6%,a 4.9 percentage point increase from 2011.

Source-SSINA