STEEL IMPORTS FOR June 2005
DECREASED 3 PERCENT FROM May 2005

July 26, 2005

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of June 2005 show that steel imports decreased 3 percent from May 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in June 2005 decreased 3 percent compared to May 2005. The change in June's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in wire rods; plates cut lengths; and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip. June 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 5 percent compared to May 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 7 percent.

June 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 24 percent compared to June 2004. June 2005 imports of finished steel were down 22 percent compared to June 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 30 percent compared to June 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel

June 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 19 percent from their May 2005 levels and were down 39 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

June 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 3 percent compared to May 2005 levels and were down 45 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

June 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 27 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports were up 10 percent compared to June 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

June 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 10 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports of these products were down 28 percent compared to June 2004.

Wire Rod

June 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 25 percent compared to May 2005 levels and were down 38 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals

June 2005 imports of heavy structurals increased 17 percent from their May 2005 level and were down 18 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Rebar

June 2005 imports of rebar decreased 9 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports of these products were down 45 percent compared to June 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar

June 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 4 percent compared to May 2005 and were equal to June 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe

June 2005 imports of standard pipe increased 12 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports of these products were down 3 percent compared to June 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

June 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 9 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports of these products were up 50 percent compared to June 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel

June 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 7 percent compared to May 2005 and were down 30 percent compared to June 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since June 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 June 2005 decreased 2 percent from their May 2005 levels and decreased 29 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in June 2005 increased 17 percent compared to May 2005 and were down 43 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in June 2005 decreased 6 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports were down 59 percent compared to June 2004.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in June 2005 decreased 8 percent compared to May 2005 and were up 7 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in June 2005 decreased 13 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports were level with June 2004.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in June 2005 increased 1 percent from their May 2005 level and were down 6 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in June 2005 increased 85 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports increased 20 percent compared to June 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in June 2005 increased 10 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports were down 18 percent compared to June 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in June 2005 decreased 12 percent compared to May 2005 and were down 22 percent compared to June 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in June 2005 decreased 2 percent compared to May 2005. June 2005 imports were up 83 percent compared to June 2004.

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 June statistics next month. July 2005 preliminary figures will be released on August 30, 2005.