STEEL IMPORTS FOR October 2005
INCREASED 18 PERCENT FROM September 2005

November 29, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of October 2005 show that steel imports increased 18 percent from September 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in October 2005 increased 18 percent compared to September 2005. The change in October's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to increases in blooms, billets, and slabs and hot rolled sheets. October 2005 imports of finished steel products increased 9 percent compared to September 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 53 percent.

October 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 23 percent compared to October 2004. October 2005 imports of finished steel were down 28 percent compared to October 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 5 percent compared to October 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

October 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 19 percent from their September 2005 levels and were down 38 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

October 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel were unchanged from September 2005 levels and were down 53 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

October 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 11 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports were up 24 percent compared to October 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

October 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 5 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 38 percent compared to October 2004.

Wire Rod

October 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 1 percent compared to September 2005 levels and were down 44 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

October 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 18 percent from their September 2005 level and were down 8 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Rebar

October 2005 imports of rebar decreased 58 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 54 percent compared to October 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

October 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 13 percent compared to September 2005 and were down 18 percent from October 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

October 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 1 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 2 percent compared to October 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

October 2005 imports of OCTG increased 13 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were up 58 percent compared to October 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

October 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 53 percent compared to September 2005 and were down 5 percent compared to October 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since October 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 October 2005 increased 22 percent from their September 2005 levels and decreased 25 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in October 2005 increased 26 percent compared to September 2005 and were down 39 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in October 2005 were unchanged from September 2005. October 2005 imports were down 58 percent compared to October 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in October 2005 were down 1 percent from September 2005 and were down 5 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in October 2005 increased 13 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports were up 23 percent from October 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in October 2005 decreased 3 percent from their September 2005 level and were down 22 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in October 2005 decreased 50 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports decreased 30 percent compared to October 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in October 2005 decreased 6 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports were down 31 percent compared to October 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in October 2005 decreased 15 percent compared to September 2005 and were up 16 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in October 2005 increased 11 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports were up 22 percent compared to October 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 October statistics next month. November 2005 preliminary figures will be released on December 28, 2005.