December Steel Imports decreased 1.2 Percent from November 2002

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of December 2002 show that steel imports decreased 1.2 percent from November 2002 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in December 2002 decreased 1.2 percent compared to November 2002. The decrease in December's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of semi-finished steel, rebar, corrosion resistant steel, and cold-rolled steel. December 2002 imports of finished steel products increased 6 percent compared to November 2002, while imports of semi-finished steel fell 23 percent.

December 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 23 percent compared to December 2001. December 2002 imports of finished steel were up 16 percent compared to December 2001, while semi-finished steel products were up 57 percent compared to December 2001. January to December 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 8 percent compared to the same period in 2001. January to December 2002 imports of finished steel were up only 0.2 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were up 37 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel

December 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 21 percent from their November 2002 levels and were up 166 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 55 percent compared to the same period last year. These products were the subject of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cold-Rolled Steel

December 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 27 percent compared to November 2002 levels and were down 50 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 37 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Cut-to-Length Plate

December 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 5 percent compared to November 2002. December 2002 imports were down 16 percent compared to December 2001. January to December 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel

December 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 28 percent compared to November 2002. December 2002 imports of these products were up 36 percent compared to December 2001. January to December 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod

December 2002 imports of wire rod increased 204 percent compared to November 2002 levels and were up 73 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of wire rod were up 15 percent compared to the same period last year. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Heavy Structurals
December 2002 imports of heavy structurals increased 41 percent from their November 2002 level and were down 41 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of heavy structurals were down 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar

December 2002 imports of rebar fell 52 percent compared to November 2002. December 2002 imports of these products were down 41 percent compared to December 2001. January to December 2002 imports of rebar were down 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar

December 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 10 percent compared to November 2002 and were down 4 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe

December 2002 imports of standard pipe decreased 10 percent compared to November 2002. December 2002 imports of these products were down 15 percent compared to December 2001, and January to December 2002 imports of standard pipe were down 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)

December 2002 imports of OCTG decreased 53 percent compared to November 2002. December 2002 imports of these products were down 46 percent compared to December 2001. January to December 2002 imports of OCTG were down 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel

December 2002 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 23 percent compared to November 2002 and were up 57 percent compared to December 2001 levels. January to December 2002 imports of semi-finished steel were up 37 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.