STEEL IMPORTS FOR July 2003
INCREASED 17 PERCENT FROM June 2003

August 26, 2003

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of July 2003 show that steel imports increased 17 percent from June 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in July 2003 increased 17 percent compared to June 2003. The increase in July's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs. July 2003 imports of finished steel products increased 5 percent compared to June 2003, and imports of semi-finished steel rose 73 percent.

July 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 35 percent compared July 2002. July 2003 imports of finished steel were down 31 percent compared to July 2002, while semi-finished steel products were down 43 percent compared to July 2002. January to July 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 23 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to July 2003 imports of finished steel were down 14 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were down 43 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

July 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 56 percent from their June 2003 levels and were up 17 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

July 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 43 percent compared to June 2003 levels and were down 63 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

July 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 25 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports increased 11 percent compared to July 2002. January to July 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

July 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 12 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports of these products were down 33 percent compared to July 2002. January to July 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

July 2003 imports of wire rod increased 11 percent compared to June 2003 levels, and were down 24 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of wire rod were
down 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

July 2003 imports of heavy structurals increased 9 percent from their June 2003 level and were down 24 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of heavy structurals were down 34 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

July 2003 imports of rebar rose 15 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports of these products were down 42 percent compared to July 2002. January to July 2003 imports of rebar were down 43 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

July 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 5 percent compared to June 2003 and decreased 22 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

July 2003 imports of standard pipe increased 23 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports of these products were down 9 percent compared to July 2002, and January to July 2003 imports of standard pipe were down 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

July 2003 imports of OCTG increased 4 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports of these products were increased 34 percent compared to July 2002. January to July 2003 imports of OCTG increased 42 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

July 2003 imports of semi-finished steel increased 72 percent compared to June 2003 and were
down 43 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of semi-finished steel were down 43 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since July 2002 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 July 2003 increased 18 percent from their June 2003 levels and were down 41 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of these products were down 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in July 2003 increased 18 percent compared to June 2003 and were down 58 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July imports of these products were down 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in July 2003 decreased 68 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports were down 82 percent compared to July 2002. January to July imports of these products were down 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in July 2003 increased 16 percent compared to June 2003 and were up 5 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of these products were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in July 2003 increased 11 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports were up 35 percent compared to July 2002. January to July imports of these products were up 35 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in July 2003 decreased 3 percent from their June 2003 level and were up 1 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July 2003 imports of these products were down 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in July 2003 increased 28 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports were up 99 percent compared to July 2002. January to July imports of these products were down 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in July 2003 increased 16
percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports were down 1 percent compared to July 2002. January to July imports of these products were up 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in July 2003 decreased 13 percent compared to June 2003 and were down 5 percent compared to July 2002 levels. January to July imports of these products were down 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in July 2003 increased
1 percent compared to June 2003. July 2003 imports were down 17 percent compared to July 2002. January to July imports of these products were down 8 percent compared to the same period last year.

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 July statistics next month. August 2003 preliminary figures will be released on September 30, 2003.