For Immediate Release: November 28 , 2006
FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR October 2006
DECREASED 2 PERCENT FROM September 2006
November 28, 2006
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of October 2006 show that steel imports decreased 2 percent from September 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in October 2006 decreased 2 percent from September 2006. The change in October’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in reinforcing bars. October 2006 imports of finished steel products decreased 1 percent compared to September 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 6 percent.
October 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 37 percent compared to October 2005. October 2006 imports of finished steel were up 50 percent compared to October 2005, while semi-finished steel products were unchanged from October 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
October 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 6 percent from their September 2006 levels and were up 42 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
October 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 6 percent from September 2006 levels and were up 116 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
October 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 14 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports were up 60 percent compared to October 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
October 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 7 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports of these products were up 114 percent compared to October 2005.
Wire Rod
October 2006 imports of wire rod were unchanged from September 2006 levels and were up 41 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
October 2006 imports of heavy structurals decreased 32 percent from their September 2006 level and were up 48 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Rebar
October 2006 imports of rebar decreased 57 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports of these products were up 50 percent compared to October 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
October 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 16 percent compared to September 2006 and were down 1 percent from October 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
October 2006 imports of standard pipe increased 5 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports of these products were up 40 percent compared to October 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
October 2006 imports of OCTG increased 18 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports of these products were up 12 percent compared to October 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
October 2006 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 6 percent compared to September 2006 and were unchanged from October 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.
EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE
Since October 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 October 2006 decreased 3 percent from their September 2006 levels and increased 41 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in October 2006 increased 7 percent compared to September 2006 and were up 46 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in October 2006 were up 3 percent from September 2006. October 2006 imports were up 132 percent compared to October 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in October 2006 were down 1 percent from September 2006 and were up 10 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in October 2006 increased 1 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports were down 33 percent from October 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in October 2006 increased 19 percent from their September 2006 level and were up 35 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in October 2006 decreased 5 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports increased 64 percent compared to October 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in October 2006 increased 11 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports were up 45 percent compared to October 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in October 2006 increased 18 percent compared to September 2006 and were up 42 percent compared to October 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in October 2006 were up 70 percent compared to September 2006. October 2006 imports were up 28 percent compared to October 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 October statistics next month. November 2006 preliminary figures will be released on December 27, 2006.