FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR July 2005
DECREASED 9 PERCENT FROM June 2005

August 30, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of July 2005 show that steel imports decreased 9 percent from June 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in July 2005 decreased 9 percent compared to June 2005. The change in July's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip and line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter. July 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 15 percent compared to June 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 20 percent.

July 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 21 percent compared to July 2004. July 2005 imports of finished steel were down 29 percent compared to July 2004, while semi-finished steel products increased 16 percent compared to July 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

July 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 18 percent from their June 2005 levels and were down 48 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

July 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 5 percent compared to June 2005 levels and were down 44 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

July 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 15 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports were down 33 percent compared to July 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

July 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 32 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports of these products were down 56 percent compared to July 2004.

Wire Rod

July 2005 imports of wire rod increased 9 percent compared to June 2005 levels and were down 26 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

July 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 14 percent from their June 2005 level and were up less than 1 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Rebar

July 2005 imports of rebar decreased 3 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports of these products were down 19 percent compared to July 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

July 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 16 percent compared to June 2005 and were down 20 percent from July 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

July 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 24 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports of these products were down 21 percent compared to July 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

July 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 20 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports of these products were up 28 percent compared to July 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

July 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 20 percent compared to June 2005 and were up 16 percent compared to July 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since July 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 July 2005 decreased 5 percent from their June 2005 levels and decreased 25 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in July 2005 decreased 19 percent compared to June 2005 and were down 52 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in July 2005 increased 10 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports were down 50 percent compared to July 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in July 2005 decreased 24 percent compared to June 2005 and were up 12 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in July 2005 increased 8 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports were up 19 percent from July 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in July 2005 decreased 6 percent from their June 2005 level and were down 13 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in July 2005 increased 14 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports increased 65 percent compared to July 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in July 2005 decreased 6 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports were down 22 percent compared to July 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in July 2005 increased 15 percent compared to June 2005 and were up 25 percent compared to July 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in July 2005 increased 2 percent compared to June 2005. July 2005 imports were up 90 percent compared to July 2004.

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 July statistics next month. August 2005 preliminary figures will be released on September 27, 2005.