For Immediate Release: March 27, 2007
FACT SHEET
STEEL IMPORTS FOR February 2007
DECREASED 10 PERCENT FROM January 2007
March 27, 2007
Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of February 2007 show that steel imports decreased 10 percent from January 2007 levels.
Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in February 2007 decreased 10 percent from January 2007. The change in February’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in wire rods, hot rolled sheets, and structural shapes heavy. February 2007 imports of finished steel products decreased 11 percent compared to January 2007, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 5 percent.
February 2007 imports of steel mill products were down 27 percent compared to February 2006. February 2007 imports of finished steel were down 23 percent compared to February 2006, while semi-finished steel products were down 41 percent from February 2006.
Hot-Rolled Steel
February 2007 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 22 percent from their January 2007 levels and were down 35 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Cold-Rolled Steel
February 2007 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 16 percent from January 2007 levels and were down 32 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Cut-to-Length Plate
February 2007 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 51 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports were down 9 percent compared to February 2006.
Corrosion-Resistant Steel
February 2007 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 4 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to February 2006.
Wire Rod
February 2007 imports of wire rod were down 48 percent from January 2007 levels and were down 67 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Heavy Structurals
February 2007 imports of heavy structurals decreased 43 percent from their January 2007 level and were down 40 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Rebar
February 2007 imports of rebar increased 6 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports of these products were up 40 percent compared to February 2006.
Hot-Rolled Bar
February 2007 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 13 percent compared to January 2007 and were down 32 percent from February 2006 levels.
Standard Pipe
February 2007 imports of standard pipe decreased 30 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports of these products were down 38 percent compared to February 2006.
Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
February 2007 imports of OCTG decreased 12 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports of these products were up 20 percent compared to February 2006.
Semi-Finished Steel
February 2007 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 5 percent compared to January 2007 and were down 41 percent from February 2006 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.
EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE
Since February 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 February 2007 decreased 10 percent from their January 2007 levels and decreased 31 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in February 2007 decreased 22 percent compared to January 2007 and were down 39 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in February 2007 were down 20 percent from January 2007. February 2007 imports were down 40 percent compared to February 2006.
Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in February 2007 were down 14 percent from January 2007 and were up 0.1 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in February 2007 decreased 13 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports were down 17 percent from February 2006 levels.
Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in February 2007 decreased 5 percent from their January 2007 level and were up 21 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in February 2007 decreased 35 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports increased 45 percent compared to February 2006.
Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in February 2007 decreased 14 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports were down 15 percent compared to February 2006.
Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in February 2007 decreased 51 percent compared to January 2007 and were up 55 percent compared to February 2006 levels.
Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in February 2007 were down 12 percent compared to January 2007. February 2007 imports were up 3 percent compared to February 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 February statistics next month. March 2007 preliminary figures will be released on April 24, 2007.