Steel bar products made up only 16 percent of the 2005 domestic steel shipments, but when it comes to everyday things, bar seems to be everywhere. From automobiles to commercial buildings, bar is a staple in a metals-consuming diet. 2005 shipments for reinforcing products were a No. 1 pick at 43 percent with hot-rolled in close second at 38 percent. Entering the second half of 2006, it became apparent that hot-rolled imports lost some ground in the popularity contest. Reinforcing products and hot-rolled products were neck and neck at 41 percent. Regardless of where individual forms fall in numbers, the bar market as a whole experienced some softening after several months in an upswing.
展开▼
