For Immediate Release: September 26, 2006
FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR August 2006
DECREASED 8 PERCENT FROM July 2006
September 26, 2006
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of August 2006 show that steel imports decreased 8 percent from July 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in August 2006 decreased 8 percent from July 2006. The change in August’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in plates in coils and galvanized hot dipped sheets and strip. August 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 9 percent compared to July 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 1 percent.
August 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 71 percent compared to August 2005. August 2006 imports of finished steel were up 64 percent compared to August 2005, while semi-finished steel products increased 104 percent compared to August 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
August 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 12 percent from their July 2006 levels and were up 159 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
August 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 1 percent from July 2006 levels and were up 146 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
August 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 18 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports were up 124 percent compared to August 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
August 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 14 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports of these products were up 75 percent compared to August 2005.
Wire Rod
August 2006 imports of wire rod decreased 14 percent compared to July 2006 levels and were up 42 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
August 2006 imports of heavy structurals decreased 12 percent from their July 2006 level and were up 47 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Rebar
August 2006 imports of rebar remained unchanged compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports of these products were up 133 percent compared to August 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
August 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 16 percent compared to July 2006 and were down 3 percent from August 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
August 2006 imports of standard pipe increased 14 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports of these products were up 20 percent compared to August 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
August 2006 imports of OCTG decreased 19 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports of these products were down 12 percent compared to August 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
August 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 1 percent compared to July 2006 and were up 104 percent compared to August 2005 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 2006 decreased 8 percent from their July 2006 levels and increased 83 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in August 2006 decreased 12 percent compared to July 2006 and were up 177 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in August 2006 were up 4 percent from July 2006. August 2006 imports were up 205 percent compared to August 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in August 2006 were down 8 percent from July 2006 and were up 13 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in August 2006 decreased 8 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports were down 27 percent from August 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in August 2006 increased 5 percent from their July 2006 level and were up 34 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in August 2006 increased 95 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports increased 70 percent compared to August 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in August 2006 increased 3 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports were up 56 percent compared to August 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in August 2006 increased 12 percent compared to July 2006 and were up 60 percent compared to August 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in August 2006 were down 10 percent compared to July 2006. August 2006 imports were down 9 percent compared to August 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 August statistics next month. September 2006 preliminary figures will be released on October 24, 2006.