FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR July 2004
DECREASED 11 PERCENT FROM June 2004
August 31, 2004

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of July 2004 show that steel imports decreased 11 percent from June 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in July 2004 decreased 11 percent compared to June 2004. The decrease in July's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an decrease in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs. July 2004 imports of finished steel products decreased 4 percent compared to June 2004, and imports of semi-finished steel fell 37 percent.

July 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 43 percent compared July 2003. July 2004 imports of finished steel were up 66 percent compared to July 2003, while semi-finished steel products were down 19 percent compared to July 2003. January to July 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 32 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to July 2004 imports of finished steel were up 33 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 32 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

July 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 4 percent from their June 2004 levels and were up 121 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 34 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

July 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 8 percent compared to June 2004 levels and were up 143 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 28 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

July 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 47 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports increased 95 percent compared to July 2003. January to July 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

July 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 10 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports of these products were up 140 percent compared to July 2003. January to July 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

July 2004 imports of wire rod decreased 6 percent compared to June 2004 levels, and were up 72 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of wire rod were up 74 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

July 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 31 percent from their June 2004 level and were up 27 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

July 2004 imports of rebar fell 23 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports of these products were up 42 percent compared to July 2003. January to July 2003 imports of rebar were up 98 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

July 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 4 percent compared to June 2004 and increased 27 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 15 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

July 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 6 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports of these products were up 22 percent compared to July 2003, and January to July 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

July 2004 imports of OCTG decreased 16 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports of these products were increased 10 percent compared to July 2003. January to July 2004 imports of OCTG increased 39 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

July 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 37 percent compared to June 2004 and were
down 19 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 32 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 July 2002 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 July 2004 decreased 9 percent from their June 2004 levels and were up 58 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of these products were up 38 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in July 2004 decreased 4 percent compared to June 2004 and were up 129 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in July 2004 decreased 9 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports were up 211 percent compared to July 2003. January to July imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in July 2004 decreased 25 percent compared to June 2004 and were down 15 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in July 2004 decreased 13 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports were down 18 percent compared to July 2003. January to July imports of these products were down 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in July 2004 decreased 6 percent from their June 2004 level and were up 18 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July 2004 imports of these products were up 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in July 2004 decreased 17 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports were up 7 percent compared to July 2003. January to July imports of these products were up 69 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in July 2004 decreased 1
percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports were up36 percent compared to July 2003. January to July imports of these products were up 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in July 2004 decreased 25 percent compared to June 2004 and were up 33 percent compared to July 2003 levels. January to July imports of these products were up 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in July 2004 decreased
2 percent compared to June 2004. July 2004 imports were up 1 percent compared to July 2003. January to July imports of these products were down 3 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 July statistics next month. August 2004 preliminary figures will be released on September 28, 2004.