Steel Imports for January 2007 Decreased 10 Percent from December 2006

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2007

FACT SHEET

STEEL IMPORTS FOR January 2007

DECREASED 10 PERCENT FROM December 2006

February 27, 2007

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of January 2007 show that steel imports decreased 10 percent from December 2006 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in January 2007 decreased 10 percent from December 2006. The change in December’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in cold-rolled and hot-rolled sheets. January 2007 imports of finished steel products decreased 12 percent compared to December 2006, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 2 percent.

January 2007 imports of steel mill products were down 23 percent compared to January 2006. January 2007 imports of finished steel were down 16 percent compared to January 2006, while semi-finished steel products were down 44 percent from January 2006.

Hot-Rolled Steel

January 2007 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 15 percent from their December 2006 levels and were down 22 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel

January 2007 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 32 percent from December 2006 levels and were down 6 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate

January 2007 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 50 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports were down 43 percent compared to January 2006.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

January 2007 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 21 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports of these products were down 24 percent compared to January 2006.

Wire Rod

January 2007 imports of wire rod were up 6 percent from December 2006 levels and were down 52 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Heavy Structurals

January 2007 imports of heavy structurals decreased 8 percent from their December 2006 level and were up 57 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Rebar

January 2007 imports of rebar increased 70 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports of these products were up 29 percent compared to January 2006.

Hot-Rolled Bar

January 2007 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 11 percent compared to December 2006 and were down 23 percent from January 2006 levels.

Standard Pipe

January 2007 imports of standard pipe increased 5 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports of these products were down 18 percent compared to January 2006.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

January 2007 imports of OCTG decreased 9 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to January 2006.

Semi-Finished Steel

January 2007 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 2 percent compared to December 2006 and were down 44 percent from January 2006 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since January 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 January 2007 decreased 11 percent from their December 2006 levels and decreased 25 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in January 2007 decreased 18 percent compared to December 2006 and were down 27 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in January 2007 were down 37 percent from December 2006. January 2007 imports were down 8 percent compared to January 2006.

Alloy Steel

Overall imports of alloy steel products in January 2007 were down 8 percent from December 2006 and were down 22 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in January 2007 decreased 13 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports were down 49 percent from January 2006 levels.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in January 2007 increased 5 percent from their December 2006 level and were up 29 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in January 2007 increased 1 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports increased 54 percent compared to January 2006.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in January 2007 increased 2 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports were up 3 percent compared to January 2006.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in January 2007 decreased 17 percent compared to December 2006 and were up 72 percent compared to January 2006 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in January 2007 were up 4 percent compared to December 2006. January 2007 imports were up 22 percent compared to January 2006.

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. February 2007 preliminary figures will be released on March 27, 2007.