Table of Contents
US steel import market: What the first half of 2026 shows
- South Korea is the largest origin in US steel imports by country at US$8.52 billion across January to June 2026, followed by China at US$8.00 billion and Belgium at US$5.11 billion under HS 72 and HS 73.
- Line pipe (HS 730411) carries the Korean trade at US$1.47 billion, while Belgium's inflow concentrates in semi-finished steel (HS 720700) at US$1.96 billion, so each origin serves a different stage of production.
- Six of the ten countries exporting steel to US buyers are Asian, and three European origins together hold more than US$9.64 billion, which spreads the supply base across two regions.
- In June 2026, total US steel imports reached 2,092,000 net tons and are down 22.9% year to date, with finished import market share estimated at 16% over the first six months, on preliminary Census Bureau figures compiled by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Where do most US steel imports come from?
Based on TradeInt's US steel import records for H1 2026, South Korea leads US steel imports in H1 2026 at US$8.52 billion, driven by seamless line pipe and stainless bar and rod, followed by China at US$8.00 billion (stainless wire, threaded fasteners). Belgium ranks third at US$5.11 billion as a semi-finished steel gateway for European mills, ahead of Japan at US$3.22 billion (specialty wire for automotive/industrial use) and India at US$2.80 billion (fabricated structures, castings).
Top 5 countries exporting steel to the US in H1 2026:
- South Korea - US$8.52 billion: the leading origin, led by seamless line pipe and stainless bar and rod.
- China - US$8.00 billion: a supplier of stainless wire and threaded fasteners.
- Belgium - US$5.11 billion: the semi-finished steel gateway for European mill output.
- Japan - US$3.22 billion: a specialty wire origin serving industrial and automotive users.
- India - US$2.80 billion: a supplier of fabricated structures and castings.
To understand US steel import sources by country, buyers should look at both import value and tonnage. The rankings can differ because some steel products are worth much more per ton than others.
In June 2026, the top five suppliers by tonnage were South Korea with 422,000 net tons, followed by Canada at 294,000, Brazil at 245,000, Mexico at 191,000, and Vietnam at 151,000. Over the twelve months ending June 2026, South Korea’s volume increased 17%, while Canada fell 44% and Mexico dropped 35%.
The difference between value and tonnage mainly comes from product mix. Higher-value products such as line pipe and stainless steel can generate strong import value even at lower volumes.
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This article provides a snapshot of US steel imports. Use TradeInt to explore more detailed trade records and continue tracking this market as new data becomes available. Search US steel import records →
🌎 US Import Partner Analysis 2026
TradeInt's US import records place Taiwan third at US$67.42 billion in Q1 2026 and China fourth at US$60.87 billion. This breakdown gives each partner's leading products and HS codes.
Explore: Where does the US import from? US imports by country Q1/2026
Top 1: South Korea, the largest source of US steel imports
From South Korea's shipment records on TradeInt in January to June 2026, the leading lines are seamless line pipe (HS 730411) at US$1.47 billion, stainless bar and rod (HS 722100) at US$648.33 million, and stainless steel wire (HS 722300) at US$222.80 million.
Top 5 US steel imports from South Korea in H1 2026:
- Line pipe (HS 730411) - US$1.47 billion: seamless tube for oil and gas pipelines, the largest single Korean line.
- Stainless bar and rod (HS 722100) - US$648.33 million: hot-rolled stainless coils sold into industrial processing.
- Stainless steel wire (HS 722300) - US$222.80 million: drawn wire for fasteners, springs, and fabrication work.
- Drill pipe (HS 730422) - US$189.96 million: stainless drill pipe for upstream well operations.
From January to April 2026, South Korea shipped 1.17 million short tons of steel to the US, up 22.6% year on year. Over the same period, shipments from Canada fell 51.6%, and Brazil dropped 47.1%.
South Korea therefore gained market share even as overall US steel imports declined. Much of this growth came from oil and gas steel products, especially line pipe.
This trend continued into June, when line pipe became the fastest-growing US import steel category. Line pipe also ranks among South Korea’s leading steel exports to the US.
Key trends in South Korean steel shipments:
- Growth accelerated: Shipments rose 14.2% year on year in Q1 2026 and 22.6% through April.
- Volumes kept rising: South Korea shipped 399,000 short tons in May, up 37% from April, followed by another 6% increase in June.
✔ Steel Importer ✔ Steel ExporterTradeInt is a global trade data platform covering 200+ countries and 80+ customs sources. Learn about TradeInt →
🏭 List of the World's Largest Steel Exporters
World Steel Association figures put China's 2023 steel exports above 90 million tonnes, ahead of Japan at 32.2 million and South Korea at 27 million. This guide ranks each major exporter and the products behind the volume.
Read more: Top 10 Steel Exporting Countries in the World
Top 2: China
Chinese shipments recorded by TradeInt for January to June 2026 are led by stainless steel wire (HS 722300) at US$2.07 billion, threaded screws and bolts (HS 731815) at US$576.15 million, and drill pipe (HS 730422) at US$293.06 million.
Top 5 US steel imports from China in H1 2026:
- Stainless steel wire (HS 722300) - US$2.07 billion: drawn stainless wire, more than three times the value of the next Chinese line.
- Threaded screws and bolts (HS 731815) - US$576.15 million: threaded steel fasteners for machinery and construction.
- Drill pipe (HS 730422) - US$293.06 million: stainless drill pipe supplied to upstream operators.
- Stainless bar and rod (HS 722100) - US$253.48 million: hot-rolled stainless coils for downstream forming.
- Stainless household articles (HS 732393) - US$152.40 million: table, kitchen and household goods of stainless steel.
In both April and June 2026, AISI ranked South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Vietnam as the five largest US steel suppliers by tonnage.
In fact, China exports more finished steel products such as wire, screws, bolts, drill pipe, and household goods. These products can have high value but relatively low weight, so China ranks lower when imports are measured by tonnage.
Many of these products fall under Chapter 73. Threaded screws and bolts, drill pipe, and stainless household articles all appear among China’s top steel exports to the US.
Top 3: Belgium
Drawn from TradeInt's US steel imports from January to June 2026, Belgium's largest lines are semi-finished steel (HS 720700) at US$1.96 billion, hot-rolled bars and rods (HS 721399) at US$1.29 billion, and welded tube (HS 730630) at US$110.74 million.
Top 5 US steel imports from Belgium in H1 2026:
- Semi-finished steel (HS 720700) - US$1.96 billion: ingots and slabs bought as feedstock by US re-rollers.
- Hot-rolled bars and rods (HS 721399) - US$1.29 billion: coiled bar sold for further forming and drawing.
- Welded tube (HS 730630) - US$110.74 million: welded pipe of circular section for industrial use.
- Stainless steel wire (HS 722300) - US$109.89 million: drawn stainless wire for fabrication work.
- Line pipe (HS 730411) - US$97.66 million: seamless tube supplied to pipeline projects.
US steel imports weakened sharply in early 2026, but the decline was not equal across product types. From January to May, rolled steel imports fell 26.8% year on year to 6.7 million short tons, while total steel imports declined 26.3% to 9.12 million tons.
That small difference matters for Belgium. Its leading exports to the US are mainly semi-finished steel and hot-rolled bars, products bought as material for further processing rather than final use. As rolled-product imports contracted faster, this type of feedstock held up slightly better within the overall market.
The presence of two Thyssenkrupp entities among the leading shippers also points to an industrial supply chain, with Belgian steel moving into US re-rolling and processing operations.
How much steel does the US import in 2026?
The US imported 2,092,000 net tons of steel in June 2026, including 1,457,000 net tons of finished steel, down 4.3% and 6.9% from May, on AISI's reading of preliminary Census Bureau data.
Year to date, total and finished steel imports fell 22.9% and 24.5%. Over the twelve months to June 2026, the declines reached 22.0% and 25.9% against the prior twelve-month period.
In April 2026, imports rose 5.9% over March to 1,874,000 net tons, lifted by tin plate up 126%, metallic coated sheet and strip up 56%, and reinforcing bars up 46%, on AISI's April statistical release. So the monthly path moved in both directions even as the annual trend held down.
Across January to April 2026, imports totalled 6.97 million net tons against 9.89 million net tons a year earlier, with South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam the largest suppliers in April.
Meanwhile, domestic output moved the other way. US mills processed 38.93 million net tons of raw steel from January to late May 2026, up 6.8% year on year, which is why finished import market share settled at an estimated 16% across the first six months.
Prices moved up alongside that shift. Therefore, import value can hold steady even where tonnage falls, and a value ranking will read stronger than a weight ranking for the same period.
Who are the top steel importers in the US?
From US steel import records on TradeInt for January to June 2026, KG Steel USA leads the buyer ranking under HS 72 and HS 73, ahead of KLN Freight Canada and Thyssenkrupp Steel North America.
The buyer mix shows that these imports are closely tied to US manufacturing. Two of the five leading companies are producers bringing in steel from within their own corporate groups, one is a freight forwarder, and two are manufacturers using imported steel in finished products.
That makes the trade less about direct resale and more about supplying US production.
Meanwhile, in August 2026, the United Steelworkers began negotiations with US Steel, with capital investment across facilities in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania among the key topics.
For buyers with long-term supply contracts, import trends cannot be viewed separately from domestic capacity. Changes in mill investment can affect how much imported steel the US market needs and where that demand is likely to emerge.
Conclusion
US steel imports by country in the first half of 2026 split into three groups. South Korea leads at US$8.52 billion on energy pipe, China follows at US$8.00 billion on stainless wire and fasteners, and Belgium takes third at US$5.11 billion on semi-finished feedstock. Because each origin serves a different stage of production, a buyer sourcing line pipe and a buyer sourcing slab are looking at almost separate markets inside the same ranking.
Talk to TradeInt to access deeper US trade records by HS code, origin, and importer.
FAQ
Who is the biggest US importer of steel?
KG Steel USA leads the recorded importer ranking for January to June 2026, followed by KLN Freight Canada and Thyssenkrupp Steel North America. The list mixes producer-owned distribution arms, a freight forwarder, and manufacturers such as Mauser USA and Mercedes-Benz US International, which bring steel in as a production input.
Where do most US steel imports come from?
Most US steel imports come from South Korea, China, and Belgium by recorded value, with Japan and India next. Asian origins hold six of the top ten places, and Belgium, Germany, and Italy give Europe a combined position above US$9.64 billion in semi-finished and hot-rolled grades.
Does the US import Chinese steel?
Yes. China ranks second by value at US$8.00 billion, and the mix is downstream: stainless steel wire (HS 722300) accounts for US$2.07 billion, followed by threaded screws and bolts at US$576.15 million. China appears among the five largest suppliers by net tons in neither April nor June 2026, because these products are light and high in value.
How much steel does the US import in 2026?
The US imported 2,092,000 net tons in June 2026, including 1,457,000 net tons of finished steel. Year to date, total and finished imports are down 22.9% and 24.5%, and finished import market share is estimated at 16% over the first six months of 2026, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.
