FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR July 2006
INCREASED 14 PERCENT FROM June 2006
August 29, 2006
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of July 2006 show that steel imports increased 14 percent from June 2006 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in July 2006 increased 14 percent from June 2006. The change in July =s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to increases in hot rolled sheets and cold rolled strip. July 2006 imports of finished steel products increased 8 percent compared to June 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 41 percent.
July 2006 imports of steel mill products were up 65 percent compared to July 2005. July 2006 imports of finished steel were up 73 percent compared to July 2005, while semi-finished steel products increased 37 percent compared to July 2005.
Hot-Rolled Steel
July 2006 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 16 percent from their June 2006 levels and were up 161 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
July 2006 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 5 percent from June 2006 levels and were up 170 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
July 2006 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 7 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports were up 79 percent compared to July 2005.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
July 2006 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 14 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports of these products were up 171 percent compared to July 2005.
Wire Rod
July 2006 imports of wire rod increased 2 percent compared to June 2006 levels and were up 17 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Heavy Structurals
July 2006 imports of heavy structurals increased 3 percent from their June 2006 level and were up 61 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Rebar
July 2006 imports of rebar decreased 32 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports of these products were down 13 percent compared to July 2005.
Hot-Rolled Bar
July 2006 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 8 percent compared to June 2006 and were up 5 percent from July 2005 levels.
Standard Pipe
July 2006 imports of standard pipe increased 1 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports of these products were up 48 percent compared to July 2005.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
July 2006 imports of OCTG increased 34 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports of these products were up 64 percent compared to July 2005.
Semi-Finished Steel
July 2006 imports of semi-finished steel increased 41 percent compared to June 2006 and were up 37 percent compared to July 2005 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.
EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE
Since July 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 July 2006 increased 14 percent from their June 2006 levels and increased 74 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in July 2006 increased 22 percent compared to June 2006 and were up 183 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in July 2006 were up 3 percent from June 2006. July 2006 imports were up 203 percent compared to July 2005.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in July 2006 were up 17 percent from June 2006 and were up 15 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in July 2006 decreased 11 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports were down 23 percent from July 2005 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in July 2006 increased 6 percent from their June 2006 level and were up 31 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in July 2006 decreased 36 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports decreased 23 percent compared to July 2005.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in July 2006 increased 14 percent compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports were up 70 percent compared to July 2005.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in July 2006 increased 13 percent compared to June 2006 and were down 6 percent compared to July 2005 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in July 2006 were unchanged compared to June 2006. July 2006 imports were down 12 percent compared to July 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 July statistics next month. August 2006 preliminary figures will be released on September 26, 2006.