Cheap plate imports put mills on offensive

Oct 10, 2012 | 03:41 PM | Anne Riley

Tags  steel plate, plate imports, trade case, Anne Riley

NEW YORK — A number of carbon steel plate producers in the United States are said to be mulling a trade case against some countries—particularly South Korea—as a deluge of low-priced material continues to hit the domestic market.

"Work is under way," a source familiar with the possible trade case told AMM, noting that he expects to see the case filed before the end of the year.

At least two domestic mills confirmed they were considering taking action against low-priced foreign material, the bulk of which has hailed from South Korea since the start of the year. The trade case will most certainly include Korea, sources familiar with the possible filing told AMM, but could also include other major suppliers.

Some 19,696 tonnes of Korean cut-to-length plate were licensed to arrive in the U.S. market in September, according to U.S. Commerce Department data, more than double the 9,624 tonnes imported from the Asian nation in the same month last year and up 52.2 percent from 12,940 tonnes in August, although 33.1 percent below the record 29,430 tonnes brought stateside in June. Total plate imports in August clocked in at 130,692 tonnes, the highest-volume month in at least a year. ....