For Immediate Release: October 24, 2006

STEEL IMPORTS FOR September 2006
DECREASED 12 PERCENT FROM August 2006

October 24, 2006

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2006 show that steel imports decreased 12 percent from August 2006 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in September 2006 decreased 12 percent from August 2006. The change in September’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in hot-rolled sheets, plates in coils, and cold-rolled sheets. September 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 10 percent compared to August 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 18 percent.

September 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 60 percent compared to September 2005. September 2006 imports of finished steel were up 59 percent compared to September 2005, while semi-finished steel products increased 62 percent compared to September 2005.

Hot-Rolled Steel

September 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 28 percent from their August 2006 levels and were up 50 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

September 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 19 percent from August 2006 levels and were up 100 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

September 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 20 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports were up 33 percent compared to September 2005.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

September 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 4 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports of these products were up 102 percent compared to September 2005.

Wire Rod

September 2006 imports of wire rod decreased 12 percent compared to August 2006 levels and were up 22 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Heavy Structurals

September 2006 imports of heavy structurals increased 19 percent from their August 2006 level and were up 75 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Rebar

September 2006 imports of rebar increased 50 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports of these products were up 505 percent compared to September 2005.

Hot-Rolled Bar

September 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 19 percent compared to August 2006 and were down 7 percent from September 2005 levels.

Standard Pipe

September 2006 imports of standard pipe decreased 4 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports of these products were up 36 percent compared to September 2005.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

September 2006 imports of OCTG decreased 28 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to September 2005.

Semi-Finished Steel

September 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 18 percent compared to August 2006 and were up 62 percent compared to September 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since September 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 September 2006 decreased 12 percent from their August 2006 levels and increased 72 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in September 2006 decreased 30 percent compared to August 2006 and were up 61 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in September 2006 were down 21 percent from August 2006. September 2006 imports were up 119 percent compared to September 2005.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2006 were down 7 percent from August 2006 and were up 6 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in September 2006 decreased 20 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports were down 27 percent from September 2005 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2006 decreased 29 percent from their August 2006 level and were up 7 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in September 2006 decreased 66 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports decreased 35 percent compared to September 2005.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in September 2006 decreased 25 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports were up 22 percent compared to September 2005.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in September 2006 decreased 18 percent compared to August 2006 and were down 7 percent compared to September 2005 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in September 2006 were down 34 percent compared to August 2006. September 2006 imports were down 19 percent compared to September 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 September statistics next month. October 2006 preliminary figures will be released on November 28, 2006.