October steel imports up 18 percent from September

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of October 2005 show that steel imports increased 18 percent from September 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in October 2005 increased 18 percent compared to September 2005. The change in October’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to increases in blooms, billets, and slabs and hot rolled sheets. October 2005 imports of finished steel products increased 9 percent compared to September 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 53 percent.

October 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 23 percent compared to October 2004. October 2005 imports of finished steel were down 28 percent compared to October 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 5 percent compared to October 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel
October 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 19 percent from their September 2005 levels and were down 38 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel
October 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel were unchanged from September 2005 levels and were down 53 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate
October 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 11 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports were up 24 percent compared to October 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
October 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 5 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 38 percent compared to October 2004.

Wire Rod
October 2005 imports of wire rod decreased 1 percent compared to September 2005 levels and were down 44 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals
October 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 18 percent from their September 2005 level and were down 8 percent compared to October 2004 levels.

Rebar
October 2005 imports of rebar decreased 58 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 54 percent compared to October 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar
October 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 13 percent compared to September 2005 and were down 18 percent from October 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe
October 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 1 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were down 2 percent compared to October 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
October 2005 imports of OCTG increased 13 percent compared to September 2005. October 2005 imports of these products were up 58 percent compared to October 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel
October 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 53 percent compared to September 2005 and were down 5 percent compared to October 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.