STEEL IMPORTS FOR February 2005
DECREASED 11 PERCENT FROM January 2005

March 29, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of February 2005 show that steel imports decreased 11 percent from January 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in February 2005 decreased 11 percent compared to January 2005. The change in February's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in hot-rolled sheets, cold-rolled sheets, and hot dipped galvanized sheets. February 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 11 percent compared to January 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 12 percent.

February 2005 imports of steel mill products were up 20 percent compared to February 2004. February 2005 imports of finished steel were up 12 percent compared to February 2004, while semi-finished steel products increased 52 percent compared to February 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

February 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 31 percent from their January 2005 levels but were up 35 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

February 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 22 percent compared to January 2005 levels and were up 54 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

February 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 69 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were up 56 percent compared to February 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

February 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 23 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports of these products were up 79 percent compared to February 2004.

Wire Rod

February 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 17 percent compared to January 2005 levels and were down 77 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

February 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 42 percent from their January 2005 level and were down 45 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Rebar

February 2005 imports of rebar increased 81 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports of these products were down 21 percent compared to February 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

February 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 8 percent compared to January 2005 and were down 2 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

February 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 18 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports of these products were up 3 percent compared to February 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

February 2005 imports of OCTG increased 8 percent compared to January 2004. February 2005 imports of these products were up 136 percent compared to February 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

February 2005 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 12 percent compared to January 2005 but were up 52 percent compared to February 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since May 2001 the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) expanded its early release of steel import data to include separate breakouts for carbon, alloy and stainless steel in each of the product categories. The following lists some of the highlights from these new breakouts:

Carbon Steel

Overall imports of carbon steel products in February 2005 decreased 13 percent from their January 2005 levels but increased 20 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in February 2005 decreased 29 percent compared to January 2005 and were up 36 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in February 2005 decreased 29 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were up 58 percent compared to February 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in February 2005 decreased 3 percent compared to January 2005 and were up 23 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in February 2005 decreased 11 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were up 44 percent compared to February 2004.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in February 2005 increased 1 percent from their January 2005 level and were up 19 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in February 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were down 16 percent compared to February 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in February 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were up 20 percent compared to February 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in February 2005 decreased 1 percent compared to January 2005 and were down 6 percent compared to February 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in February 2005 decreased 11 percent compared to January 2005. February 2005 imports were up 106 percent compared to February 2004.

These figures are being provided on an expedited basis and will continue to be released on this schedule each month. The data released today are preliminary and are likely to change somewhat between now and the release of the final February statistics next month. March 2005 preliminary figures will be released on April 26, 2005.