Fact Sheet
Steel Imports for January
2000 Decrease 4 Percent from December 1999
February 25,
2000
Newly released preliminary government figures covering
steel imports for the month of January show that steel imports
decreased 4 percent from December 1999 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall
steel imports in January 2000 fell 4 percent compared to December
1999. Imports of finished steel products fell further, down 7
percent compared to December1999 levels. Steel imports in January
2000 were up roughly 9 percent compared to January 1999 due to
increases in imports of semifinished steel which were up 111 percent
compared to January 1999. In contrast, imports of finished steel
in January 2000 were down 9 percent compared to January 1999.
Hot-Rolled Steel
January 2000 imports of hot-rolled steel, which
were the subject of recently completed antidumping and countervailing
duty cases, fell 19 percent compared to December 1999. January
2000 imports of hot-rolled steel are up 12 percent compared to
January 1999 and 7 percent compared to January 1998.
Cold-Rolled Steel
January 2000 imports of cold-rolled steel, the subject
of 13 ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty cases, fell
34 percent compared to December 1999. January 2000 imports of
cold-rolled steel are down 51 percent compared to January 1999
and 35 percent compared to January 1998.
Cut-to-Length Plate
January 2000 imports of cut-to-length plate, the
subject of 11 ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty cases,
rose 2 percent compared to December 1999. January 2000 imports
of cut-to-length plate are down 52 percent compared to January
1999 and up 4 percent compared to January 1998.
Wire Rod
January 2000 imports of wire rod, the subject of
a recently completed section 201 proceeding, fell 6 percent compared
to December 1999. January 2000 imports of wire rod are up 5 percent
compared to January 1999 and down 11 percent compared to January
1998.
Heavy Structurals
January 2000 imports of heavy structurals fell 10
percent compared to December 1999. January 2000 imports of heavy
structurals are down 46 percent compared to January 1999 and at
the same level as January 1998 imports. These products are the
subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
Semifinished Steel
January 2000 imports of semifinished steel increased
5 percent compared to December 1999. January 2000 imports of semifinished
steel are up 111 percent compared to January 1999 and 82 percent
compared to January 1998.
These figures are being provided on an expedited
basis and will continue to be released on this schedule each month,
consistent with the President's steel action program of August
5, 1999. The data released today are preliminary and are likely
to change somewhat between now and the release of the final January
statistics next month. February preliminary figures will be released
on March 23, 2000.
Note: With November 1999's release, Census issued
revisions to certain country totals within product categories
for 1998 and the first six months of 1999. Only individual country
totals within certain product categories were affected by these
revisions, the grand totals for these product categories were
not affected. This revisions have been incorporated into this
fact sheet and the accompanying data tables.
Detailed reports containing the 1998 and January
to June 1999 revisions are available on the Census
Bureau web site.
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