FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR December 2004
DECREASED 19 PERCENT FROM November 2004

January 25, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of December 2004 show that steel imports decreased 19 percent from November 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in December 2004 decreased 19 percent compared to November 2004. The decrease in December's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets, slabs, hot rolled sheets, and reinforcing bars. December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 39 percent compared to November 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 44 percent.

December 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 63 percent compared to December 2003. December 2004 imports of finished steel were up 73 percent compared to December 2003, while semi-finished steel products were up 25 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 54 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to December 2004 imports of finished steel were up 55 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 53 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

December 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 44 percent from their November 2004 levels and were up 57 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 85 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

December 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 4 percent compared to November 2004 levels and were up 190 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 84 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

December 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 18 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 174 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

December 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 7 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 195 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 77 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

December 2004 imports of wire rod increased 32 percent compared to November 2004 levels, and were up 79 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of wire rod were up 74 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

December 2004 imports of heavy structurals increased 9 percent from their November 2004 level and were down18 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

December 2004 imports of rebar were down 75 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 2 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of rebar were up 88 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

December 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 4 percent compared to November 2004 and down 7 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

December 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 17 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 28 percent compared to December 2003, and January to December 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

December 2004 imports of OCTG decreased 33 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 110 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of OCTG were up 45 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 39 percent compared to November 2004 and were up 25 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 53 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 December 2004 decreased 23 percent from their November 2004 levels and were up 66 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of these products were up 63 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in December 2004 decreased 46 percent compared to November 2004 and were up 67 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December imports of these products were up 89 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in December 2004 decreased 1 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 237 percent compared to December 2003. January to December imports of these products were up104 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in December 2004 increased 11 percent compared to November 2004 and were up 47 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of these products were up 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in December 2004 increased 59 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 49 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of these products were down .3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in December 2004 increased 10 percent from their November 2004 level and were up 56 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of these products were up 26 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in December 2004 increased 9 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 88 percent compared to December 2003. January to December imports of these products were up 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in December 2004 increased 26 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 83 percent compared to December 2003. January to December imports of these products were up 38 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in December 2004 increased 5 percent compared to November and were up 34 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 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 December 2004 increased 40 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 111 percent compared to December 2003. January to December imports of these products were up 21 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 December statistics next month. January 2005 preliminary figures will be released on February 23, 2005.