FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR July 2002

INCREASED 6 PERCENT FROM June 2002

August 27, 2002

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of July 2002 show that steel imports increased 6 percent from June 2002 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in July 2002 increased 6 percent compared to June 2002. The increase in July's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in imports of cold-rolled steel, corrosion resistant steel, and concrete reinforcing bars. July 2002 imports of finished steel products increased 6 percent compared to June 2002, and imports of semi-finished steel rose 6 percent.

July 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 16 percent compared to July 2001. July 2002 imports of finished steel was up 7 percent compared to July 2001, while semi-finished steel products were up 44 percent compared to July 2001. January to July 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 6 percent compared to the same period in 2001. January to July 2002 imports of finished steel were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 51 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

July 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 14 percent from their June 2002 levels and were up 220 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 18 percent compared to the same period last year. These products were the subject of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cold-Rolled Steel

July 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 40 percent compared to June 2002 levels and were down 37 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 39 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cut-to-Length Plate

July 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 23 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were down 32 percent compared to July 2001. January to July 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

July 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 41 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports of these products were up 36 percent compared to July 2001. January to July 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

July 2002 imports of wire rod decreased 44 percent compared to June 2002 levels, and were down 6 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of wire rod were up 15 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Heavy Structurals

July 2002 imports of heavy structurals decreased 18 percent from their June 2002 level and were down 36 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of heavy structurals were down 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

July 2002 imports of rebar rose 68 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports of these products were down 12 percent compared to July 2001. January to July 2002 imports of rebar were down 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

July 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 9 percent compared to June 2002 and were up 29 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

July 2002 imports of standard pipe increased 11 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to July 2001, and January to July 2002 imports of standard pipe were down 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

July 2002 imports of OCTG increased 105 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports of these products were down 39 percent compared to July 2001. January to July 2002 imports of OCTG were down 57 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

July 2002 imports of semi-finished steel increased 6 percent compared to June 2002 and were up 44 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of semi-finished steel were up 51 percent compared to the same period last year. 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 2002 increased 7 percent from their June 2002 levels and were up 20 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in July 2002 increased 15 percent compared to June 2002 and were up 231 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July imports of these products were up 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in July 2002 increased 48 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were down 42 percent compared to July 2001. January to July imports of these products were down 42 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in July 2002 decreased nearly 1 percent compared to June 2002 and were up 2 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of these products were up 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in July 2002 increased 4 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were up 6 percent compared to July 2001. January to July imports of these products were down 16 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in July 2002 decreased 2 percent from their June 2002 level and were down 27 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July 2002 imports of these products were up 3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in July 2002 decreased 26 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were down 37 percent compared to July 2001. January to July imports of these products were up 48 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in July 2002 increased 3 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were up 18 percent compared to July 2001. January to July imports of these products were up 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in July 2002 increased 16 percent compared to June 2002 and were down 43 percent compared to July 2001 levels. January to July imports of these products were down 34 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in July 2002 decreased 2 percent compared to June 2002. July 2002 imports were down 28 percent compared to July 2001. January to July imports of these products were down 28 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 July statistics next month. August 2002 preliminary figures will be released on September 24, 2002.

Note: Census issued revisions to certain country totals within product categories for 1998 and the first six months of 1999. Only individual country totals within certain product categories were affected by these revisions; the overall totals for these product categories were not affected. These revisions have been incorporated into this fact sheet and the accompanying tables. Detailed reports containing the revisions to the data for 1998 and the period January to June 1999 are available on the Census Bureau web site.