STEEL IMPORTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2003
INCREASED 13 PERCENT FROM AUGUST 2003

October 29, 2003

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2003 show that steel imports increased 8 percent from August 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in September 2003 decreased 42 percent compared to September 2002. The increase in September's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a increase in imports of bloom, billet, slab, and wire rod. September 2003 imports of finished steel products increased 4 percent compared to August 2003, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 26 percent.

September 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 42 percent compared to September 2002. September 2003 imports of finished steel were down 42 percent compared to September 2002, while semi-finished steel products were down 42 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of steel mill products are down 27 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to September 2003 imports of semi-finished steel are down 46 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

September 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 29 percent from their August 2003 level and were down 56 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel are down 28 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

September 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 1 percent compared to August 2003 levels and were down 48 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel are down 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

September 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 3 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 53 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate are down 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

September 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 4 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports of these products are down 46 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel are down 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

September 2003 imports of wire rod increased 29 percent compared to August 2003 levels and are down 67 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of wire rod are down 38 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

September 2003 imports of heavy structurals decreased 39 percent from their August 2003 level and are down 39 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of heavy structurals are down 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

September 2003 imports of rebar fell 16 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports of these products are up 13 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of rebar are down 33 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

September 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 3 percent compared to August 2003 and are down 14 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar are down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

September 2003 imports of standard pipe increased 3 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports of these products are up 18 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of standard pipe are down 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

September 2003 imports of OCTG increased 28 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports of these products are up 81 percent compared to September 2002. January to September 2003 imports of OCTG are up 54 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

September 2003 imports of semi-finished steel increased 26 percent compared to August 2003, and are down 42 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of semi-finished steel are down 46 percent compared to the same period last year.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Carbon Steel

Overall imports of carbon steel products in September 2003 increased 8 percent from their August 2003 level and are down 46 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of these products are down 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in September 2003 increased 26 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 60 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are down 29 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in September 2003 increased 1 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 57 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are down 28 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2003 increased 3 percent compared to August 2003 and are down 9 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of these products are down 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in September 2003 decreased 33 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 28 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are up 26 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2003 increased 16 percent from their August 2003 level and are up 8 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September 2003 imports of these products are down 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in September 2003 increased 258 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are up 231 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are down 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in September 2003 increased 1 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 8 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are up 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in September 2003 decreased 46 percent compared to August 2003 and are down 39 percent compared to September 2002 levels. January to September imports of these products are down 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in September 2003 increased 39 percent compared to August 2003. September 2003 imports are down 19 percent compared to September 2002. January to September imports of these products are down 14 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 September statistics next month. October preliminary figures will be released on November 25, 2003.