Mexican steel imports grew by nearly 20% year-on-year to 11.7 million tonnes in 2015, exceeding the total imports recorded in 2014 by 2mt, Kallanish learns from the Mexican tariff information system (Siavi). Landings of steel products in 2015 are the highest ever recorded on the database, which contains statistical information dating back to 2003.

Shipments originating from USA, Mexico’s main importer, grew by 4.9% y-o-y to 4.7mt, while most of the top ten importers of steel products recorded increases higher than 10%, Kallanish notes.

Japan confirmed its role as Mexico’s second biggest importer, reaching 1.38mt of steel products in 2015, or 10.7% more y-o-y. It was followed by South Korea, which shipped 1.2mt of steel products into the country, or 70.8% more y-o-y.

Material originating in China, Mexico's fourth largest source of imported steel, grew by 53.9% y-o-y to 883,941 tonnes whilst imports from Brazil recorded the highest increase, by 248% on-year to 757,851t.

Mexico steel imports 2015
  2015 2014 % ch. y-o-y
USA 4,767,905 4,543,193    4.9
Japan 1,384,496 1,250,057   10.7
South Korea 1,298,736    760,321   70.8
China    883,941    574,156   53.9
Brazil    757,851    217,639 248.2
Canada     526,379    518,393    1.5
Russia    520,311    400,712   29.8
Taiwan    235,324    170,729   37.8
Germany    202,156     236,078  -14.3
Spain    138,340      124,201   11.3
Total Imports 11,712,278 9,767,013   19.9

Source: Mexican Tariff Information System (Siavi)