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January 2005

Steel imports for October decreased 12 percent

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of October 2004 show that steel imports decreased 12 percent from September 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in October 2004 decreased 12 percent compared to September 2004. The decrease in October’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets and slabs; and wire rods. October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 21 percent compared to September 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 12 percent.

October 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 69 percent compared to October 2003. October 2004 imports of finished steel were up 68 percent compared to October 2003, while semi-finished steel products were up 75 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 49 percent compared to the same period in 2003.

Hot-Rolled Steel
October 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 12 percent from their September 2004 levels and were up 190 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 73 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
October 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 18 percent compared to September 2004 levels and were up 167 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 65 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
October 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 6 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports were up 41 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 47 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
October 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 10 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 155 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
October 2004 imports of wire rod decreased 31 percent compared to September 2004 levels, and were up 66 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of wire rod were up 77 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
October 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 4 percent from their September 2004 level and were down 17 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
October 2004 imports of rebar were down 8 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 9 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of rebar were up 88 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
October 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 3 percent compared to September 2004 and remained steady compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 16 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
October 2004 imports of standard pipe increased 4 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were up 33 percent compared to October 2003, and January to October 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
October 2004 imports of OCTG decreased 32 percent compared to September 2004. October 2004 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to October 2003. January to October 2004 imports of OCTG were up 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel
October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent compared to September 2004 and were up 75 percent compared to October 2003 levels. January to October 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 52 percent compared to the same period last year.