For Immediate Release: January 30, 2007
FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR December 2006
DECREASED 13 PERCENT FROM November 2006
January 30, 2007
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of December 2006 show that steel imports decreased 13 percent from November 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in December 2006 decreased 13 percent from November 2006. The change in November’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in blooms, billets, slabs, and reinforcing bars. December 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 12 percent compared to November 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 14 percent.
December 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 2 percent compared to December 2005. December 2006 imports of finished steel were up 12 percent compared to December 2005, while semi-finished steel products were down 26 percent from December 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
December 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 17 percent from their November 2006 levels and were down 11 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
December 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 3 percent from November 2006 levels and were up 44 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
December 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 10 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports were up 16 percent compared to December 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
December 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 14 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports of these products were up 14 percent compared to December 2005.
Wire Rod
December 2006 imports of wire rod were down 18 percent from November 2006 levels and were up 2 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
December 2006 imports of heavy structurals increased 72 percent from their November 2006 level and were up 57 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Rebar
December 2006 imports of rebar decreased 37 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports of these products were down 22 percent compared to December 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
December 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 33 percent compared to November 2006 and were down 29 percent from December 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
December 2006 imports of standard pipe decreased 15 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports of these products were down 15 percent compared to December 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
December 2006 imports of OCTG decreased less than 1 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports of these products were up 29 percent compared to December 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
December 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 14 percent compared to November 2006 and were down 26 percent from December 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.
EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE
Since December 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 breakouts:
Carbon Steel
Overall imports of carbon steel products in December 2006 decreased 12 percent from their November 2006 levels and increased 2 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in December 2006 decreased 17 percent compared to November 2006 and were down 12 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in December 2006 were up 3 percent from November 2006. December 2006 imports were up 48 percent compared to December 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in December 2006 were down 15 percent from November 2006 and were down 1 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in December 2006 decreased 18 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports were down 29 percent from December 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in December 2006 decreased 5 percent from their November 2006 level and were up 30 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in December 2006 decreased 39 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports increased 56 percent compared to December 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in December 2006 decreased 12 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports were up 15 percent compared to December 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in December 2006 increased 8 percent compared to November 2006 and were up 98 percent compared to December 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in December 2006 were down 17 percent compared to November 2006. December 2006 imports were up 7 percent compared to December 2005.
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 January statistics next month. January 2007 preliminary figures will be released on February 27, 2007.