February 2004

November 2003 Steel Imports Decreased 4 Percent from October

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of November 2003 show that steel imports decreased 4 percent from October 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in November 2003 decreased 4 percent compared to October 2003. The decrease in November’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs; wire rods; and hot rolled sheets. November 2003 imports of finished steel products decreased 13 percent compared to October 2003, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 36 percent.

November 2003 imports of steel mill products decreased 34 percent compared to November 2002. November 2003 imports of finished steel decreased 35 percent compared to November 2002, while semi-finished steel products decreased 32 percent compared to November 2002. January to November 2003 imports of steel mill products decreased 28 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to November 2003 imports of finished steel decreased 22 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 46 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel
November 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 17 percent from their October 2003 levels and decreased 68 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
November 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 2 percent compared to October 2003 levels and decreased 54 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 28 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
November 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 27 percent compared to October 2003. November 2003 imports decreased 48 percent compared to November 2002. January to November 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
November 2003 imports of wire rod decreased 10 percent compared to October 2003 levels and increased 10 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of wire rod decreased 35 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
November 2003 imports of heavy structurals decreased 12 percent from their October 2003 level and increased 2 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of heavy structurals decreased 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
November 2003 imports of rebar decreased 56 percent compared to October 2003. November 2003 imports of these products increased 9 percent compared to November 2002. January to November 2003 imports of rebar decreased 22 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Hot-Rolled Bar
November 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 13 percent compared to October 2003 and decreased 7 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
November 2003 imports of standard pipe increased 3 percent compared to October 2003. November 2003 imports of these products decreased 3 percent compared to November 2002. January to November 2003 imports of standard pipe decreased 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
November 2003 imports of OCTG decreased 29 percent compared to October 2003. November 2003 imports of these products increased 43 percent compared to November 2002. January to November 2003 imports of OCTG increased 53 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel
November 2003 imports of semi-finished steel increased 36 percent compared to October 2003 and decreased 32 percent compared to November 2002 levels. January to November 2003 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 46 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.