FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2002
INCREASED 13 PERCENT FROM AUGUST 2002

October 29, 2002

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2002 show that steel imports increased 13 percent from August 2002 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in September 2002 increased 10 percent compared to September 2001. The increase in September's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a increase in imports of wire rod, hot-rolled steel, cut-to-length plate and corrosion resistant steel. September 2002 imports of finished steel products increased 27 percent compared to August 2002, while imports of semi-finished steel fell 20 percent.

September 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 10 percent compared to September 2001. September 2002 imports of finished steel were up 21 percent compared to September 2001, while semi-finished steel products were down 17 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of steel mill products are up 7 percent compared to the same period in 2001. January to September 2002 imports of semi-finished steel are up 30 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

September 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 31 percent from their August 2002 level and were up 145 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel are up 39 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

September 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 2 percent compared to August 2002 levels and were down 27 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel are down 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

September 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 11 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are down 13 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate are down 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

September 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 8 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports of these products are up 64 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel are up 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

September 2002 imports of wire rod increased 209 percent compared to August 2002 levels and are up 114 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of wire rod are up 26 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Heavy Structurals

September 2002 imports of heavy structurals decreased 19 percent from their August 2002 level and are down 18 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of heavy structurals are down 21 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

September 2002 imports of rebar fell 41 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports of these products are down 53 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of rebar are down 19 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

September 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 1 percent compared to August 2002 and are up 11 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar are up 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

September 2002 imports of standard pipe decreased 24 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports of these products are down 46 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of standard pipe are down 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

September 2002 imports of OCTG increased 64 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports of these products are down 46 percent compared to September 2001. January to September 2002 imports of OCTG are down 56 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

September 2002 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 20 percent compared to August 2002. and are up 46 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of semi-finished steel are up 43 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

Carbon Steel

Overall imports of carbon steel products in September 2002 increased 19 percent from their August 2002 level and are up 37 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of these products are up 8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in September 2002 increased 37 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are up 164 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are up 40 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in September 2002 increased 8 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are down 32 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are down 41 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2002 decreased 16 percent compared to August 2002 and are up 3 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of these products are up 8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in September 2002 increased 11 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are up 42 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are down 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2002 decreased 22 percent from their August 2002 level and are up 20 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September 2002 imports of these products are up 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in September 2002 decreased 32 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are up 26 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are up 45 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in September 2002 decreased 3 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are up 23 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are up 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in September 2002 decreased 24 percent compared to August 2002 and are up 4 percent compared to September 2001 levels. January to September imports of these products are down 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in September 2002 decreased 22 percent compared to August 2002. September 2002 imports are up 39 percent compared to September 2001. January to September imports of these products are down 18 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 September statistics next month. October preliminary figures will be released on November 26, 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.