NEW YORK — U.S. imports of steel slabs fell 5 percent in September from the previous month amid decreases in product received in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Northwest.

Slab imports for the month totaled 517,399 tonnes vs. 544,374 tonnes in August, according to data compiled by AMM from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division. However, that was still 4 percent higher than the 497,534 tonnes imported in September 2011.

The greatest decline, by district, was in Mobile, Ala., which saw imports fall 49.4 percent month on month to 146,163 tonnes. Mills in that area include Essen, Germany-based ThyssenKrupp AG’s Calvert, Ala., facility.

Other declines were seen in the Columbia-Snake district, down 70 percent to 23,391 tonnes. Mills operating in the district include Chicago-based Evraz Inc. North America (Evraz NA).

No slab imports were recorded for the Chicago district in September vs. 38,876 tonnes in August.

On the other hand, the Los Angeles district, which includes California Steel Industries Inc.’s facility in Fontana, Calif., saw imports more than triple to 132,011 tonnes from 36,612 tonnes in August.

Slab imports into the Philadelphia district nearly quadrupled to 147,662 tonnes in September from 37,235 tonnes a month earlier. The district’s major mills include Portage, Ind.-based NLMK USA’s Pennsylvania facilities; Evraz NA’s Claymont, Del., operation; and ArcelorMittal USA LLC’s Coatesville, Pa., plant.