For Immediate Release: December 27, 2006
FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR November 2006
DECREASED 13 PERCENT FROM October 2006
December 27, 2006
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of November 2006 show that steel imports decreased 13 percent from October 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in November 2006 decreased 13 percent from October 2006. The change in November’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in blooms, billets, slabs, and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip. November 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 10 percent compared to October 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent.
November 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 41 percent compared to November 2005. November 2006 imports of finished steel were up 43 percent compared to November 2005, while semi-finished steel products were up 31 percent from November 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
November 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 16 percent from their October 2006 levels and were up 60 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
November 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 12 percent from October 2006 levels and were up 67 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
November 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 14 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports were up 74 percent compared to November 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
November 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 23 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports of these products were up 48 percent compared to November 2005.
Wire Rod
November 2006 imports of wire rod were down 18 percent from October 2006 levels and were up 80 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
November 2006 imports of heavy structurals increased 2 percent from their October 2006 level and were up 2 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Rebar
November 2006 imports of rebar decreased 10 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports of these products were down 18 percent compared to November 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
November 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 14 percent compared to October 2006 and were up 16 percent from November 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
November 2006 imports of standard pipe decreased 27 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to November 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
November 2006 imports of OCTG decreased 5 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to November 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
November 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent compared to October 2006 and were up 31 percent from November 2005 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 2006 decreased 16 percent from their October 2006 levels and increased 43 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in November 2006 decreased 17 percent compared to October 2006 and were up 70 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in November 2006 were down 9 percent from October 2006. November 2006 imports were up 79 percent compared to November 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in November 2006 were up 13 percent from October 2006 and were up 27 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in November 2006 increased 28 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports were down 14 percent from November 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in November 2006 decreased 4 percent from their October 2006 level and were up 39 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in November 2006 increased 21 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports increased 127 percent compared to November 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in November 2006 decreased 10 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports were up 40 percent compared to November 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in November 2006 decreased 12 percent compared to October 2006 and were up 70 percent compared to November 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in November 2006 were down 2 percent compared to October 2006. November 2006 imports were up 11 percent compared to November 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 November statistics next month. December 2006 preliminary figures will be released on January 30, 2007.