STEEL IMPORTS FOR February 2006
INCREASED LESS THAN 1 PERCENT FROM January 2006

March 28, 2006

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of February 2006 show that steel imports increased less than 1 percent from January 2006 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in February 2006 increased less than 1 percent from January 2006. The change in February's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to increases in blooms, billets, and slabs; and wire rods. February 2006 imports of finished steel products increased 4 percent compared to January 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 11 percent.

February 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 30 percent compared to February 2005. February 2006 imports of finished steel were up 29 percent compared to February 2005, while semi-finished steel products increased 32 percent compared to February 2005.

Hot-Rolled Steel

February 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 8 percent from their January 2006 levels and were up 21 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

February 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 30 percent from January 2006 levels and were up 56 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

February 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 5 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports were up 30 percent compared to February 2005.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

February 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 5 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports of these products were up 37 percent compared to February 2005.

Wire Rod

February 2006 imports of wire rod decreased 26 percent compared to January 2006 levels and were up 18 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Heavy Structurals

February 2006 imports of heavy structurals increased 81 percent from their January 2006 level and were up 214 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Rebar

February 2006 imports of rebar increased 149 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports of these products were up 136 percent compared to February 2005.

Hot-Rolled Bar

February 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 1 percent compared to January 2006 and were down 7 percent from February 2005 levels.

Standard Pipe

February 2006 imports of standard pipe increased 7 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports of these products were up 45 percent compared to February 2005.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

February 2006 imports of OCTG decreased 28 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports of these products were down 3 percent compared to February 2005.

Semi-Finished Steel

February 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 11 percent compared to January 2006 and were up 32 percent compared to February 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since February 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 2006 increased 5 percent from their January 2006 levels and increased 38 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in February 2006 decreased 9 percent compared to January 2006 and were up 20 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in February 2006 were up 36 percent from January 2006. February 2006 imports were up 81 percent compared to February 2005.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in February 2006 were down 29 percent from January 2006 and were down 8 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in February 2006 decreased 44 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports were down 23 percent from February 2005 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in February 2006 decreased less than 1 percent from their January 2006 level and were down 13 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in February 2006 decreased 25 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports increased 12 percent compared to February 2005.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in February 2006 increased 10 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports were up 3 percent compared to February 2005.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in February 2006 decreased 37 percent compared to January 2006 and were down 41 percent compared to February 2005 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in February 2006 increased 9 percent compared to January 2006. February 2006 imports were down 5 percent compared to February 2005.

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 2006 preliminary figures will be released on April 25, 2006.