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

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in February 2002 increased 13 percent compared to January 2002. The increase in February's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a increase in imports of semi-finished steel, hot-rolled steel, rebar, and light shaped bars. February 2002 imports of finished steel products increased 7 percent compared to January 2002, while imports of semi-finished steel rose 33 percent.

February 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 55 percent compared to February 2001. February 2002 imports of finished steel were up 38 percent compared to February 2001, and semi-finished steel products were also up 115 percent compared to February 2001. January to February 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 34 percent compared to the same period in 2001. January to February 2002 imports of finished steel were up 19 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 100 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

February 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 43 percent from their January 2002 levels and were up 55 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 3 percent compared to the same period last year. These products were the subject of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cold-Rolled Steel

February 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 15 percent compared to January 2002 levels and were up 5 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 0.66 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cut-to-Length Plate

February 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 11 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were up 10 percent compared to February 2001. January to February 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 35 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

February 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 15 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports of these products were up 95 percent compared to February 2001. January to February 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 84 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

February 2002 imports of wire rod decreased 33 percent compared to January 2002 levels and were up 52 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of wire rod were up 51 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Heavy Structurals

February 2002 imports of heavy structurals decreased 40 percent from their January 2002 level and were down 39 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of heavy structurals were down 38 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

February 2002 imports of rebar rose 61 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports of these products were up 94 percent compared to February 2001. January to February 2002 imports of rebar were up 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

February 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 0.58 percent compared to January 2002 and were up 25 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 26 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

February 2002 imports of standard pipe increased 15 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports of these products were up 60 percent compared to February 2001, and January to February 2002 imports of standard pipe were up 41 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

February 2002 imports of OCTG decreased 52 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports of these products were down 52 percent compared to February 2001. January to February 2002 imports of OCTG were down 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

February 2002 imports of semi-finished steel increased 33 percent compared to January 2002 and were up 115 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of semi-finished steel were up 100 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 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 February 2002 increased 22 percent from their January 2002 levels and were up 66 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of these products were up 36 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in February 2002 increased 46 percent compared to January 2002 and were up 56 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February imports of these products were up 1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in February 2002 decreased 0.17 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were up 17 percent compared to February 2001. January to February imports of these products were up 2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in February 2002 decreased 30 percent compared to January 2002 and were up 8 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of these products were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in February 2002 decreased 15 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were down 25 percent compared to February 2001. January to February imports of these products were down 21 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in February 2002 decreased 5 percent from their January 2002 level and were up 0.19 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February 2002 imports of these products were up 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in February 2002 decreased 6 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were up 49 percent compared to February 2001. January to February imports of these products were up 89 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in February 2002 decreased 17 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were down 10 percent compared to February 2001. January to February imports of these products were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in February 2002 decreased 41 percent compared to January 2002 and were down 29 percent compared to February 2001 levels. January to February imports of these products were up 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in February 2002 decreased 29 percent compared to January 2002. February 2002 imports were down 33 percent compared to February 2001. January to February imports of these products were down 14 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 February statistics next month. March 2002 preliminary figures will be released on April 30, 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.