Steel U-sections imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of steel u-sections by the United States reached $94.6 million in 2024 (91.2 thousand tonnes). It ranks 1st of 198 countries for imports of this product. That is 5% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $94.6M | 91.2K t |
| 2023 | $99.9M | 94.6K t |
| 2022 | $110.3M | 88.0K t |
| 2021 | $64.5M | 64.0K t |
| 2020 | $43.2M | 61.2K t |
| 2019 | $33.1M | 43.9K t |
| 2018 | $42.0M | 51.7K t |
| 2017 | $66.3M | 93.2K t |
Where the United States imports steel u-sections from
The largest suppliers were Mexico (47%), Canada (33%), Germany (12%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $44.2M | 47% |
| Canada | $31.1M | 33% |
| Germany | $11.0M | 12% |
| Japan | $5.6M | 5.9% |
| South Korea | $1.3M | 1.4% |
| United Kingdom | $519K | 0.6% |
| Brazil | $358K | 0.4% |
| Turkey | $212K | 0.2% |
| Italy | $205K | 0.2% |
| Taiwan | $85K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.04 per kg, 33% above the world average of $0.78. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Steel U-sections exports from the United States
Exports of steel u-sections by the United States reached $48.5 million in 2024 (33.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 3%. One buyer market dominates: Canada accounted for 52% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, United Kingdom grew fastest (+282% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $25.4M | 52% |
| Mexico | $15.4M | 32% |
| United Kingdom | $3.1M | 6.5% |
| Dominican Republic | $1.5M | 3% |
| Australia | $854K | 1.8% |
| Vietnam | $329K | 0.7% |
| South Korea | $298K | 0.6% |
| China | $237K | 0.5% |
| United Arab Emirates | $186K | 0.4% |
| Greece | $168K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States steel u-sections imports (HS 7216.31): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7216.31: Iron or non-alloy steel: U sections, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of 80mm or more.
Common questions
What is the value of steel u-sections imported by the United States?
The United States imported steel u-sections worth $94.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 91.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 198 countries worldwide, with 6% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply steel u-sections to the United States?
Mexico was the largest supplier with 47% of the value ($44.2 million), followed by Canada (33%) and Germany (12%). The top three together account for 91%, out of 21 supplier countries in total. Italy grew fastest among the top ten, up 176% on the year.
What is the average import price of steel u-sections per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.04 per kg in 2024, 33% above the world average of $0.78 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of steel u-sections to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $66.3 million in 2017 to $94.6 million in 2024, an increase of 43%. The peak was 2022 at $110.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $69.2 million a year.
Does the United States also export steel u-sections?
Yes. The United States exported $48.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $46.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel u-sections?
The HS code for steel u-sections is subheading 7216.31. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7216 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
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