STEEL IMPORTS FOR August 2005
DECREASED 12 PERCENT FROM July 2005

September 27, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of August 2005 show that steel imports decreased 12 percent from July 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in August 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to July 2005. The change in August's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in blooms, billets, and slabs; reinforcing bars; and wire rods. August 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 4 percent compared to July 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 40 percent.

August 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 37 percent compared to August 2004. August 2005 imports of finished steel were down 36 percent compared to August 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 44 percent compared to August 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

August 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 10 percent from their July 2005 levels and were down 59 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

August 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 11 percent compared to July 2005 levels and were down 48 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

August 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 15 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports were down 36 percent compared to August 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

August 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 34 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports of these products were down 45 percent compared to August 2004.

Wire Rod

August 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 31 percent compared to July 2005 levels and were down 48 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

August 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 5 percent from their July 2005 level and were down 2 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Rebar

August 2005 imports of rebar decreased 51 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports of these products were down 64 percent compared to August 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

August 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 5 percent compared to July 2005 and were down 17 percent from August 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

August 2005 imports of standard pipe increased 40 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports of these products were down 25 percent compared to August 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

August 2005 imports of OCTG increased 42 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports of these products were up 120 percent compared to August 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

August 2005 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 40 percent compared to July 2005 and were down 44 percent compared to August 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since August 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 August 2005 decreased 14 percent from their July 2005 levels and decreased 42 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in August 2005 decreased 9 percent compared to July 2005 and were down 62 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in August 2005 increased 3 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports were down 57 percent compared to August 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in August 2005 decreased 7 percent compared to July 2005 and were down 5 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in August 2005 increased 4 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports were up 10 percent from August 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in August 2005 increased 3 percent from their July 2005 level and were up 1 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in August 2005 decreased 8 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports increased 18 percent compared to August 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in August 2005 increased 12 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports were down 13 percent compared to August 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in August 2005 decreased 34 percent compared to July 2005 and were down 12 percent compared to August 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in August 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to July 2005. August 2005 imports were up 45 percent compared to August 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 August statistics next month. September 2005 preliminary figures will be released on October 25, 2005.