For Immediate Release: April 24, 2007

FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR March 2007
INCREASED 12 PERCENT FROM February 2007

April 24, 2007

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of March 2007 show that steel imports increased 12 percent from February 2007 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in March 2007 increased 12 percent from February 2007. The change in March’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in cut-to-length plate, hot-rolled sheets, and standard pipe. March 2007 imports of finished steel products increased 14 percent compared to February 2007, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 4 percent.

March 2007 imports of steel mill products were down 26 percent compared to March 2006. March 2007 imports of finished steel were down 19 percent compared to March 2006, while semi-finished steel products were down 47 percent from March 2006.

Hot-Rolled Steel

March 2007 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 17 percent from their February 2007 levels and were down 44 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

March 2007 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 10 percent from February 2007 levels and were down 36 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

March 2007 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 52 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports were up 23 percent compared to March 2006.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

March 2007 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 1 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports of these products were down 30 percent compared to March 2006.

Wire Rod

March 2007 imports of wire rod were up 31 percent from February 2007 levels and were down 30 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Heavy Structurals

March 2007 imports of heavy structurals increased 7 percent from their February 2007 level and were down 40 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Rebar

March 2007 imports of rebar increased 14 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports of these products were down 19 percent compared to March 2006.

Hot-Rolled Bar

March 2007 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 24 percent compared to February 2007 and were down 11 percent from March 2006 levels.

Standard Pipe

March 2007 imports of standard pipe increased 45 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports of these products were down 14 percent compared to March 2006.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

March 2007 imports of OCTG increased 5 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports of these products were up 3 percent compared to March 2006.

Semi-Finished Steel

March 2007 imports of semi-finished steel increased 4 percent compared to February 2007 and were down 47 percent from March 2006 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since March 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 breakouts:

Carbon Steel

Overall imports of carbon steel products in March 2007 increased 12 percent from their February 2007 levels and decreased 31 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in March 2007 increased 23 percent compared to February 2007 and were down 47 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in March 2007 were up 12 percent from February 2007. March 2007 imports were down 44 percent compared to March 2006.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in March 2007 were up 15 percent from February 2007 and were up 4 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in March 2007 increased 23 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports were down 4 percent from March 2006 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in March 2007 increased 11 percent from their February 2007 level and were up 29 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in March 2007 inreased 6 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports increased 17 percent compared to March 2006.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in March 2007 decreased 0.2 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports were down 17 percent compared to March 2006.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in March 2007 increased 43 percent compared to February 2007 and were up 102 percent compared to March 2006 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in March 2007 were up 20 percent compared to February 2007. March 2007 imports were up 12 percent compared to March 2006.

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 March statistics next month. April 2007 preliminary figures will be released on May 30, 2007.