STEEL IMPORTS FOR September 2005
DECREASED 5 PERCENT FROM August 2005

October 25, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2005 show that steel imports decreased 5 percent from August 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in September 2005 decreased 5 percent compared to August 2005. The change in September's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in oil country goods and reinforcing bars. September 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 8 percent compared to August 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 7 percent.

September 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 40 percent compared to September 2004. September 2005 imports of finished steel were down 38 percent compared to September 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 46 percent compared to September 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

September 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 32 percent from their August 2005 levels and were down 49 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

September 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 1 percent compared to August 2005 levels and were down 44 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

September 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 28 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were up 26 percent compared to September 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

September 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 12 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 49 percent compared to September 2004.

Wire Rod

September 2005 imports of wire rod increased 3 percent compared to August 2005 levels and were down 59 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

September 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 16 percent from their August 2005 level and were down 5 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Rebar

September 2005 imports of rebar decreased 49 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 74 percent compared to September 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

September 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 18 percent compared to August 2005 and were down 27 percent from September 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

September 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 15 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were up 7 percent compared to September 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

September 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 43 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to September 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

September 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 7 percent compared to August 2005 and were down 46 percent compared to September 2004 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 2005 decreased 6 percent from their August 2005 levels and decreased 44 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in September 2005 increased 29 percent compared to August 2005 and were down 54 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in September 2005 increased 11 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were down 49 percent compared to September 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2005 were unchanged from August 2005 and were down 3 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in September 2005 decreased 18 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were up 5 percent from September 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2005 decreased 10 percent from their August 2005 level and were down 20 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in September 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports increased 143 percent compared to September 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in September 2005 decreased 3 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were down 30 percent compared to September 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in September 2005 increased 17 percent compared to August 2005 and were up 106 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in September 2005 decreased 26 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were down 4 percent compared to September 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 September statistics next month. October 2005 preliminary figures will be released on November 29, 2005.