FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR October 2004
DECREASED 12 PERCENT FROM September 2004

November 30, 2004

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of October 2004 show that steel imports decreased 12 percent from September 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in October 2004 decreased 12 percent compared to September 2004. The decrease in October's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets and slabs; and wire rods. October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 21 percent compared to September 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 12 percent.

October 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 69 percent compared to October 2003. October 2004 imports of finished steel were up 68 percent compared to October 2003, while semi-finished steel products were up 75 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 49 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to October 2004 imports of finished steel were up 49 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 52 percent.

Hot Rolled Steel

October 2004 imports of hot rolled steel decreased 12 percent from their September 2004 levels and were up 190 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 73 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold Rolled Steel

October 2004 imports of cold rolled steel were up 18 percent compared to September 2004 levels and were up 167 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 65 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut to Length Plate

October 2004 imports of cut to length plate decreased 6 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 41 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 47 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

October 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 10 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 155 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

October 2004 imports of wire rod decreased 31 percent compared to September 2004 levels, and were up 66 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of wire rod were up 77 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

October 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 4 percent from their September 2004 level and were down 17 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

October 2004 imports of rebar were down 8 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 9 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of rebar were up 88 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

October 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 3 percent compared to September 2004 and remained steady compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 16 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

October 2004 imports of standard pipe increased 4 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to October 2003, and January to October 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

October 2004 imports of OCTG decreased 32 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of OCTG were up 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent compared to September 2004 and were up 75 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 52 percent compared to the same period last year.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since May 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 October 2004 decreased 13 percent from their September 2004 levels and were up 78 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of these products were up 57 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in October 2004 decreased 13 percent compared to September 2004 and were up 207 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October imports of these products were up 75 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in October 2004 increased 22 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 222 percent compared to October 2003. January to October imports of these products were up 80 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in October 2004 decreased 1 percent compared to September 2004 and were up 28 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of these products were up 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in October 2004 decreased 9 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were down 9 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of these products were down 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in October 2004 decreased 3 percent from their September 2004 level and were up 23 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of these products were up 19 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in October 2004 increased 71 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 31 percent compared to October 2003. January to October imports of these products were up 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in October 2004 decreased 8 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 41 percent compared to October 2003. January to October imports of these products were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in October 2004 increased 79 percent compared to October and were up 51 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October imports of these products were up 49 percent compared to the same period last year.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in October 2004 decreased 14 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 22 percent compared to October 2003. January to October imports of these products were up 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

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 October statistics next month. November 2004 preliminary figures will be released on December 21, 2004.