FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR September 2004
DECREASED 3 PERCENT FROM August 2004

October 26, 2004

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2004 show that steel imports decreased 3 percent from August 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in September 2004 decreased 3 percent compared to August 2004. The decrease in September's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of reinforcing bars and standard pipe. September 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products increased 15 percent compared to August 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel increased by 0.3 percent.

September 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 85 percent compared to September 2003. September 2004 imports of finished steel were up 81 percent compared to September 2003, while semi-finished steel products were up 100 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 46 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to September 2004 imports of finished steel were up 46 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 48 percent.

Hot Rolled Steel

September 2004 imports of hot rolled steel increased 0.3 percent from their August 2004 levels and were up 140 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 61 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold Rolled Steel

September 2004 imports of cold rolled steel were down 7 percent compared to August 2004 levels and were up 170 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 54 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut to Length Plate

September 2004 imports of cut to length plate decreased 28 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were up 79 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 48 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

September 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 9 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports of these products were up 160 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 49 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

September 2004 imports of wire rod increased 20 percent compared to August 2004 levels, and were up 74 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of wire rod were up 76 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

September 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 13 percent from their August 2004 level and were up 16 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

September 2004 imports of rebar were down 30 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports of these products were up 95 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of rebar were up 103 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

September 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 7 percent compared to August 2004 and were up 21 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

September 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 41 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports of these products were up 13 percent compared to September 2003, and January to September 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

September 2004 imports of OCTG increased 46 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports of these products were up 66 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of OCTG were up 45 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

September 2004 imports of semi-finished steel increased 15 percent compared to August 2004 and were up 100 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 48 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 September 2004 decreased 3 percent from their August 2004 levels and were up 97 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of these products were up 54 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in September 2004 increased 1 percent compared to August 2004 and were up 158 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September imports of these products were up 63 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in September 2004 decreased 9 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were up 217 percent compared to September 2003. January to September imports of these products were up 66 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2004 decreased 1 percent compared to August 2004 and were up 29 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of these products were up 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in September 2004 decreased 19 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were up 30 percent compared to September 2003. January to September 2004 imports of these products were down 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2004 increased 12 percent from their August 2004 level and were up 29 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 2004 imports of these products were up 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in September 2004 decreased 53 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were down 75 percent compared to September 2003. January to September imports of these products were up 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in September 2004 increased 19 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were up 78 percent compared to September 2003. January to September imports of these products were up 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in September 2004 decreased 48 percent compared to August 2004 and were up 39 percent compared to September 2003 levels. January to September 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 September 2004 increased 10 percent compared to August 2004. September 2004 imports were up 48 percent compared to September 2003. January to September imports of these products were up 8 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 August statistics next month. October 2004 preliminary figures will be released on November 30, 2004.