Jun 5, 2026
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today, based on the Commerce Department’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis data, that steel import permit applications for May totaled 1,996,000 net tons. This figure represents a 0.7% increase compared to the 1,983,000 permit tons recorded in April, and a 6.5% rise from the April preliminary imports total of 1,874,000 net tons.
Finished steel import permit tonnage for May reached 1,495,000 net tons, an 8.5% increase from the April preliminary imports total of 1,378,000 net tons. Several steel product categories saw notable increases in May permits versus April preliminary imports: hot rolled sheet rose by 112%, tin free steel by 92%, plates in coils by 40%, wire rods by 36%, and oil country goods by 25%.
Year-to-date comparisons through May 2026 versus the same period in 2025 show significant increases for standard rails (up 69%), heavy structural shapes (up 53%), reinforcing bars (up 19%), and electrical sheets and strip (up 12%).
In May, the largest steel import permit applications came from South Korea (385,000 net tons, up 32% from April preliminary imports), Canada (256,000 net tons, down 5%), Brazil (237,000 net tons, up 10%), Vietnam (145,000 net tons, up 18%), and Japan (124,000 net tons, up 67%).
For the first five months of 2026, the largest suppliers were South Korea (1,558,000 net tons, up 23%), Canada (1,252,000 net tons, down 49%), and Brazil (1,167,000 net tons, down 46%).
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
| # | Company | Headquarters | Focus | Scale | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nucor Corporation | Charlotte, North Carolina | Steel products, slabs, billets | Very large | Largest US steel producer |
| 2 | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | Cleveland, Ohio | Iron ore pellets, HBI, flat rolled steel | Very large | Major integrated producer |
| 3 | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Steel production, fabrication | Very large | Major mini-mill operator |
| 4 | U.S. Steel | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Integrated steel, slabs, sheet | Very large | Historic integrated producer |
| 5 | Commercial Metals Company | Irving, Texas | Steel, billets, rebar, merchant bar | Very large | Major recycler and producer |
| 6 | ArcelorMittal USA | Chicago, Illinois | Flat carbon steel, slabs | Very large | US operations of global co. |
| 7 | Gerdau Ameristeel | Tampa, Florida | Long steel, billets, blooms | Large | US arm of Gerdau |
| 8 | NLMK USA | Farrell, Pennsylvania | Slabs, hot rolled coil | Large | US operations of NLMK Group |
| 9 | Big River Steel | Osceola, Arkansas | Flat rolled, slabs | Large | Subsidiary of U.S. Steel |
| 10 | California Steel Industries | Fontana, California | Slabs, flat rolled steel | Large | Processes imported slabs |
| 11 | SSAB Americas | Mobile, Alabama | Plate, coil, slabs | Large | Division of SSAB AB |
| 12 | North Star BlueScope Steel | Delta, Ohio | Hot rolled coil, slabs | Medium | Joint venture |
| 13 | Steel Warehouse Company | South Bend, Indiana | Processing, some billet production | Medium | Integrated processor |
| 14 | Mittal Steel USA | Chicago, Illinois | Steel slabs, flat products | Large | Legacy entity, now part of AM/NS |
| 15 | JSW Steel USA | Baytown, Texas | Plate, pipe, slabs | Medium | US operations of JSW |
| 16 | Evraz North America | Chicago, Illinois | Steel, pipe, rails, slabs | Large | Now operates independently |
| 17 | Cascade Steel Rolling Mills | McMinnville, Oregon | Billets, rebar, merchant bar | Medium | Sub of Schnitzer Steel |
| 18 | Birmingham Steel Corporation | Birmingham, Alabama | Steel billets, bars | Medium | Legacy producer, now part of others |
| 19 | Keystone Consolidated Industries | Dallas, Texas | Wire rod, billets | Medium | Integrated wire producer |
| 20 | Melters | Various, USA | Billet production for forging | Small-Medium | Various specialty melt shops |
| 21 | Charter Steel | Saukville, Wisconsin | Bars, billets, wire rod | Medium | Division of Charter Mfg. |
| 22 | Legacy Steel | Unknown | Steel billets and blooms | Small-Medium | Regional producer |
| 23 | Republic Steel | Canton, Ohio | Bars, billets, special bar quality | Medium | Specialty long products |
| 24 | Mingo Junction | Mingo Junction, Ohio | Slab casting | Medium | Former Wheeling-Pitt facility |
| 25 | Steel of West Virginia | Huntington, West Virginia | Structural, bar, billet | Medium | Mini-mill producer |
| 26 | Byer Steel Group | Cincinnati, Ohio | Rebar, billets | Medium | Mini-mill and fabricator |
| 27 | Mirachem | Unknown | Steel billets | Small | Limited information |
| 28 | Cargill Steel | Wayzata, Minnesota | Trading, some processing | Large | Part of Cargill’s metals business |
| 29 | Koppel Steel | Koppel, Pennsylvania | Billets, bars | Small | Legacy mill, now part of others |
| 30 | Various Regional Mini-Mills | Various, USA | Billets for local market | Small | Aggregate of small producers |
This report provides a comprehensive view of the slabs, billets and blooms of iron and steel industry in the United States, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the slabs, billets and blooms of iron and steel landscape in the United States.
Quick navigation
Key findings
- Domestic demand is shaped by both household and industrial usage, with trade flows linking local supply to imports and exports.
- Pricing dynamics reflect unit values, freight costs, exchange rates, and regulatory shifts that affect sourcing decisions.
- Supply depends on input availability and production efficiency, creating a distinct national cost curve.
- Market concentration varies by segment, creating different competitive landscapes and entry barriers.
- The 2035 outlook highlights where capacity investment and demand growth are most aligned within the country.
Report scope
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for the United States. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
- Market size and growth in value and volume terms
- Consumption structure by end-use segments
- Production capacity, output, and cost dynamics
- Trade flows, exporters, importers, and balances
- Price benchmarks, unit values, and margin signals
- Competitive context and market entry conditions
Product coverage
- Prodcom 24102110 – Flat semi-finished products (of non-alloy steel)
- Prodcom 241021Z0 – Ingots, other primary forms and long semi-finished products, o f non-alloy steel
- Prodcom 24102210 – Flat semi-finished products (slabs) (of stainless steel)
- Prodcom 241022Z0 – Ingots, other primary forms and long semi-finished products, o f stainless steel
- Prodcom 24102310 – Flat semi-finished products (of alloy steel other than of stainless steel)
- Prodcom 241023Z0 – Ingots, other primary forms and long semi-finished products, o f alloy steel other than stainless steel
Country coverage
Country profile and benchmarks
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
Methodology
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
- International trade data (exports, imports, and mirror statistics)
- National production and consumption statistics
- Company-level information from financial filings and public releases
- Price series and unit value benchmarks
- Analyst review, outlier checks, and time-series validation
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
Forecasts to 2035
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links slabs, billets and blooms of iron and steel demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in the United States.
- Historical baseline: 2012-2025
- Forecast horizon: 2026-2035
- Scenario-based sensitivity to income growth, substitution, and regulation
- Capacity and investment outlook for major producing companies
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Price analysis and trade dynamics
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
- Price benchmarks by country and sub-region
- Export and import unit value trends
- Seasonality and calendar effects in trade flows
- Price outlook to 2035 under baseline assumptions
Profiles of market participants
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
- Business focus and production capabilities
- Geographic reach and distribution networks
- Cost structure and pricing strategy indicators
- Compliance, certification, and sustainability context
How to use this report
- Quantify domestic demand and identify the most attractive segments
- Evaluate export opportunities and prioritize target destinations
- Track price dynamics and protect margins
- Benchmark performance against leading competitors
- Build evidence-based forecasts for investment decisions
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of slabs, billets and blooms of iron and steel dynamics in the United States.
FAQ
What is included in the slabs, billets and blooms of iron and steel market in the United States?
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
How are the forecasts to 2035 built?
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Does the report cover prices and margins?
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
Which benchmarks are included?
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States.
Can this report support market entry decisions?
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
- Report Description
- Research Methodology and the Analytical Framework
- Data-Driven Decisions for Your Business
- Glossary and Product-Specific Terms
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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Concise View of Market Direction
- Key Findings
- Market Trends
- Strategic Implications
- Key Risks and Watchpoints
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3. DOMESTIC MARKET SIZE AND DEVELOPMENT PATH
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
- Market Size: Historical Data (2012-2025) and Forecast (2026-2035)
- Growth Outlook and Market Development Path to 2035
- Growth Driver Decomposition
- Scenario Framework and Sensitivities
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4. CATEGORY SCOPE, DEFINITIONS AND BOUNDARIES
Commercial and Technical Scope
- What Is Included and How the Market Is Defined
- Market Inclusion Criteria
- Product / Category Definition
- Exclusions and Boundaries
- Distinction From Adjacent Products and Substitute Categories
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5. CATEGORY STRUCTURE, SEGMENTATION AND PRODUCT MATRIX
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
- By Product Type / Configuration
- By Application / End Use
- By Customer / Buyer Type
- By Channel / Business Model / Technology Platform
- Segment Attractiveness Matrix
- Product Matrix and Segment Growth Logic
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6. DOMESTIC DEMAND, CUSTOMER AND BUYER ARCHITECTURE
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
- Consumption / Demand: Historical Data (2012-2025) and Forecast (2026-2035)
- Demand by End-Use and Buyer Group
- Demand by Customer / Consumer Segment
- Purchase Criteria, Switching Logic and Adoption Barriers
- Replacement, Replenishment and Installed-Base Dynamics
- Future Demand Outlook
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7. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND VALUE CHAIN
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
- Production in the Country
- Domestic Manufacturing Footprint
- Capacity, Bottlenecks and Supply Risks
- Value Chain Logic and Margin Pools
- Distribution and Route-to-Market Structure
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8. IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND SOURCING STRUCTURE
Trade Flows and External Dependence
- Exports
- Imports
- Trade Balance
- Import Dependence
- Sourcing Risks and Resilience
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9. PRICING, PROMOTION AND COMMERCIAL MODEL
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
- Domestic Price Levels and Corridors
- Pricing by Segment / Specification / Channel
- Cost Drivers and Margin Logic
- Promotion, Discounting and Procurement Patterns
- Revenue Quality and Commercial Levers
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10. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE AND PORTFOLIO POWER
Who Wins and Why
- Market Structure and Concentration
- Competitive Archetypes
- Segment-by-Segment Competitive Intensity
- Portfolio Breadth and Product Positioning
- Capability Matrix
- Strategic Moves, Partnerships and Expansion Signals
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11. DOMESTIC MARKET STRUCTURE AND CHANNEL LOGIC
How the Domestic Market Works
- Core Demand Centers
- Local Production and Distribution Roles
- Channel Structure
- Buyer and Procurement Architecture
- Regional Imbalances Within the Country
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12. GROWTH PLAYBOOK AND MARKET ENTRY
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
- Where to Play
- How to Win
- Distributor / Partner / Direct Entry Options
- Capability Thresholds
- Entry Risks and Mitigation
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13. WHERE TO PLAY NEXT: MOST ATTRACTIVE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
- Most Attractive Product Niches
- Most Attractive Customer Segments
- White Spaces and Unsaturated Opportunities
- High-Margin and Underpenetrated Pockets
- Most Promising Product Adjacencies
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14. PROFILES OF MAJOR COMPANIES
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
- Leading Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Production Footprint and Capacities
- Product Portfolio and Segment Focus
- Pricing Positioning and Indicative Price Logic
- Channel / Distribution Strength
- Strategic Archetypes
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15. METHODOLOGY, SOURCES AND DISCLAIMER
How the Report Was Built
- Modeling Logic
- Source Register
- Publications, Regulatory and Industry References
- Analytical Notes
- Disclaimer
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Nucor Corporation
Largest US steel producer
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Major integrated producer
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Major mini-mill operator
U.S. Steel
Historic integrated producer
Commercial Metals Company
Major recycler and producer
ArcelorMittal USA
US operations of global co.
Gerdau Ameristeel
US arm of Gerdau
NLMK USA
US operations of NLMK Group
Big River Steel
Subsidiary of U.S. Steel
California Steel Industries
Processes imported slabs
SSAB Americas
Division of SSAB AB
North Star BlueScope Steel
Joint venture
Steel Warehouse Company
Integrated processor
Mittal Steel USA
Legacy entity, now part of AM/NS
JSW Steel USA
US operations of JSW
Evraz North America
Now operates independently
Cascade Steel Rolling Mills
Sub of Schnitzer Steel
Birmingham Steel Corporation
Legacy producer, now part of others
Keystone Consolidated Industries
Integrated wire producer
Melters
Various specialty melt shops
Charter Steel
Division of Charter Mfg.
Legacy Steel
Regional producer
Republic Steel
Specialty long products
Mingo Junction
Former Wheeling-Pitt facility
Steel of West Virginia
Mini-mill producer
Byer Steel Group
Mini-mill and fabricator
Mirachem
Limited information
Cargill Steel
Part of Cargill’s metals business
Koppel Steel
Legacy mill, now part of others
Various Regional Mini-Mills
Aggregate of small producers
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