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March 2005

December steel imports decreased 19 percent from November

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of December 2004 show that steel imports decreased 19 percent from November 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released January 25 show that overall steel imports in December 2004 decreased 19 percent compared to November 2004. The decrease in December’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets, slabs, hot rolled sheets, and reinforcing bars. December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 39 percent compared to November 2004, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 44 percent.

December 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 63 percent compared to December 2003. December 2004 imports of finished steel were up 73 percent, while semi-finished steel products were up 25 percent. January to December 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 54 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel
December 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 44 percent from their November 2004 levels and were up 57 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 85 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
December 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 4 percent compared to November 2004 levels and were up 190 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were up 84 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
December 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 18 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports were up 174 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were up 58 percent.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
December 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 7 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 195 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 77 percent.

Wire Rod
December 2004 imports of wire rod increased 32 percent compared to November 2004 levels, and were up 79 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of wire rod were up 74 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
December 2004 imports of heavy structurals increased 9 percent from their November 2004 level and were down18 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
December 2004 imports of rebar were down 75 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 2 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of rebar were up 88 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
December 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 4 percent compared to November 2004 and down 7 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 13 percent.

Standard Pipe
December 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 17 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 28 percent compared to December 2003, and January to December 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 31 percent.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
December 2004 imports of OCTG decreased 33 percent compared to November 2004. December 2004 imports of these products were up 110 percent compared to December 2003. January to December 2004 imports of OCTG were up 45 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel
December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 39 percent compared to November 2004 and were up 25 percent compared to December 2003 levels. January to December 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 53 percent compared to the same period last year.