FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR May 2003
Increased 2.3 PERCENT FROM April 2003

June 24, 2003

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of May 2003 show that steel imports increased 2.3 percent from April 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in May 2003 increased 2.3 percent compared to April 2003. The increase in May's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs. May 2003 imports of finished steel products decreased 2.3 percent compared to April 2003, and imports of semi-finished steel increased 23.4 percent.

May 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 1.2 percent compared to May 2002. May 2003 imports of finished steel increased 3.1 percent compared to May 2002, while semi-finished steel products were decreased 14.5 percent compared to May 2002. January to May 2003 imports of steel mill products were down almost 16 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to May 2003 imports of finished steel were down 7.8 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were down 37.7 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

May 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 3.2 percent from their April 2003 levels and were down 1.6 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

May 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 10.4 percent compared to April 2003 levels and were up 18.5 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 9.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

May 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 26.5 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were up 1.1 percent compared to May 2002. January to May 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 30.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

May 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 19.1 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports of these products were up 20.5 percent compared to May 2002. January to May 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 14.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

May 2003 imports of wire rod decreased 22.5 percent compared to April 2003 levels, and were down 13.7 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of wire rod were down 18.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

May 2003 imports of heavy structurals increased 61.3 percent from their April 2003 level and were down 24.3 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of heavy structurals were down 33.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

May 2003 imports of rebar increased 5.5 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports of these products were down 58.8 percent compared to May 2002. January to May 2003 imports of rebar were down 51.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

May 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 22.4 percent compared to April 2003 and were up 19.2 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 0.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

May 2003 imports of standard pipe increased 1 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports of these products were up 15.4 percent compared to May 2002, and January to May 2003 imports of standard pipe were down 12.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

May 2003 imports of OCTG increased 8.5 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports of these products were up 50.5 percent compared to May 2002. January to May 2003 imports of OCTG were up 27.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

May 2003 imports of semi-finished steel increased 23.4 percent compared to April 2003 but were down 14.5 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of semi-finished steel were down 37.7 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 May 2003 increased 2.6 percent from their April 2003 levels and were down 2.9 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of these products were down almost 16.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in May 2003 decreased 2.2 percent compared to April 2003 and were down 0.3 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May imports of these products were up 10.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in May 2003 decreased 4.4 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were increased 22 percent compared to May 2002. January to May imports of these products were down 13.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in May 2003 increased 3.6 percent compared to April 2003 and were up 18.4 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of these products were down 8.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in May 2003 decreased 9.6 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were up 24.2 percent compared to May 2002. January to May imports of these products were up 35.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in May 2003 decreased 9.7 percent from their April 2003 level and were down 28.8 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May 2003 imports of these products were down 24.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in May 2003 decreased 31.7 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were down 37.4 percent compared to May 2002. January to May imports of these products were down 48.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in May 2003 decreased 13.4 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were up 0.8 percent compared to May 2002. January to May imports of these products were up 13.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in May 2003 decreased 44.2 percent compared to April 2003 and were down 25.3 percent compared to May 2002 levels. January to May imports of these products were down 32.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in May 2003 decreased 10.5 percent compared to April 2003. May 2003 imports were down 8.8 percent compared to May 2002. January to May imports of these products were down 4.2 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 May statistics next month. June 2003 preliminary figures will be released on July 29, 2003.