STEEL IMPORTS FOR November 2004
DECREASED 12 PERCENT FROM October 2004

December 21, 2004

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of November 2004 show that steel imports decreased 12 percent from October 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in November 2004 decreased 12 percent compared to October 2004. The decrease in November's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of wire rods and line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter. November 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 15 percent compared to October 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 8 percent.

November 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 65 percent compared to November 2003. November 2004 imports of finished steel were up 76 percent compared to November 2003, while semi-finished steel products were up 33 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 52 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to November 2004 imports of finished steel were up 52 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 53 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

November 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 8 percent from their October 2004 levels and were up 256 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 86 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel

November 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 6 percent compared to October 2004 levels and were up 156 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 73 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate

November 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 9 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were up 79 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 49 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

November 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 8 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports of these products were up 197 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 68 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

November 2004 imports of wire rod decreased 35 percent compared to October 2004 levels, and were up 13 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of wire rod were up 73 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals

November 2004 imports of heavy structurals increased 7 percent from their October 2004 level and were up 5 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

November 2004 imports of rebar were down 10 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports of these products were up 112 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of rebar were up 91 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

November 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 20 percent compared to October 2004 and down 7 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

November 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 11 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports of these products were up 14 percent compared to November 2003, and January to November 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

November 2004 imports of OCTG increased 12 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports of these products were up 38 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of OCTG were up 39 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

November 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 15 percent compared to October 2004 and were up 33 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 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 November 2004 decreased 11 percent from their October 2004 levels and were up 80 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of these products were up 61 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in November 2004 decreased 6 percent compared to October 2004 and were up 297 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November imports of these products were up 90 percent compared to the same period last year.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in November 2004 decreased 5 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were up 206 percent compared to November 2003. January to November imports of these products were up 91 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in November 2004 decreased 21 percent compared to October 2004 and were down 8 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of these products were up 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in November 2004 decreased 12 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were down 4 percent compared to November 2003. January to November 2004 imports of these products were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in November 2004 decreased 9 percent from their October 2004 level and were up 47 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 2004 imports of these products were up 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in November 2004 increased 8 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were up 11 percent compared to November 2003. January to November imports of these products were up 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in November 2004 decreased 10 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were up 45 percent compared to November 2003. January to November imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to the same period last year.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in November 2004 decreased 12 percent compared to November and were up 56 percent compared to November 2003 levels. January to November 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 November 2004 decreased 8 percent compared to October 2004. November 2004 imports were up 67 percent compared to November 2003. January to November imports of these products were up 14 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 November statistics next month. December 2004 preliminary figures will be released on January 25, 2005.