STEEL IMPORTS FOR November 2005
DECREASED 15 PERCENT FROM October 2005

December 28, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of November 2005 show that steel imports decreased 15 percent from October 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in November 2005 decreased 15 percent compared to October 2005. The change in November's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot rolled sheets; and wire rods. November 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 8 percent compared to October 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 36 percent.

November 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 31 percent compared to November 2004. November 2005 imports of finished steel were down 29 percent compared to November 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 38 percent compared to November 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

November 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 24 percent from their October 2005 levels and were down 52 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

November 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 14 percent from October 2005 levels and were down 47 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

November 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 20 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports were up 4 percent compared to November 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

November 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 7 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports of these products were down 43 percent compared to November 2004.

Wire Rod

November 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 36 percent compared to October 2005 levels and were down 46 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

November 2005 imports of heavy structurals increased 48 percent from their October 2005 level and were up 23 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Rebar

November 2005 imports of rebar increased 65 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports of these products were up 4 percent compared to November 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

November 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 8 percent compared to October 2005 and were down 13 percent from November 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

November 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 3 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports of these products were up 3 percent compared to November 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

November 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 25 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports of these products were down 7 percent compared to November 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

November 2005 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 36 percent compared to October 2005 and were down 38 percent compared to November 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since November 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 November 2005 decreased 18 percent from their October 2005 levels and decreased 35 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in November 2005 decreased 28 percent compared to October 2005 and were down 56 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in November 2005 were up 17 percent from October 2005. November 2005 imports were down 52 percent compared to November 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in November 2005 were down 4 percent from October 2005 and were up 6 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in November 2005 decreased 1 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports were up 25 percent from November 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in November 2005 increased less than 1 percent from their October 2005 level and were down 22 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in November 2005 increased 51 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports decreased 13 percent compared to November 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in November 2005 decreased 3 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports were down 29 percent compared to November 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in November 2005 decreased 10 percent compared to October 2005 and were up 16 percent compared to November 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in November 2005 increased 13 percent compared to October 2005. November 2005 imports were up 47 percent compared to November 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 November statistics next month. December 2005 preliminary figures will be released on January 31, 2006.