FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR June 2006
DECREASED 14 PERCENT FROM May 2006
July 25, 2006
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of June 2006 show that steel imports decreased 14 percent from May 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in June 2006 decreased 14 percent from May 2006. The change in June’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in hot rolled sheets and oil country tubular goods. June 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 9 percent compared to May 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 36 percent.
June 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 25 percent compared to June 2005. June 2006 imports of finished steel were up 31 percent compared to June 2005, while semi-finished steel products decreased 2 percent compared to June 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
June 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 26 percent from their May 2006 levels and were up 76 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
June 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 12 percent from May 2006 levels and were up 142 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
June 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 23 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports were up 42 percent compared to June 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
June 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 3 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports of these products were up 54 percent compared to June 2005.
Wire Rod
June 2006 imports of wire rod increased 50 percent compared to May 2006 levels and were up 7 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
June 2006 imports of heavy structurals decreased 12 percent from their May 2006 level and were up 33 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Rebar
June 2006 imports of rebar decreased 4 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports of these products were up 13 percent compared to June 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
June 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 11 percent compared to May 2006 and were down 4 percent from June 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
June 2006 imports of standard pipe decreased 4 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports of these products were up 11 percent compared to June 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
June 2006 imports of OCTG decreased 30 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports of these products were down 12 percent compared to June 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
June 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 36 percent compared to May 2006 and were down 2 percent compared to June 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.
EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE
Since June 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 June 2006 decreased 14 percent from their May 2006 levels and increased 37 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in June 2006 decreased 28 percent compared to May 2006 and were up 86 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in June 2006 were up 17 percent from May 2006. June 2006 imports were up 219 percent compared to June 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in June 2006 were down 18 percent from May 2006 and were down 30 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in June 2006 increased 7 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports were down 8 percent from June 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in June 2006 decreased 8 percent from their May 2006 level and were up 14 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in June 2006 increased 9 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports increased 10 percent compared to June 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in June 2006 decreased 10 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports were up 39 percent compared to June 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in June 2006 decreased 15 percent compared to May 2006 and were down 12 percent compared to June 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in June 2006 increased 13 percent compared to May 2006. June 2006 imports were down 12 percent compared to June 2005.
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 June statistics next month. July 2006 preliminary figures will be released on August 29, 2006.