April 2004

January 2004 Steel Imports Increased 35 Percent from December

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of January 2004 show that steel imports increased 35 percent from December 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data show that overall steel imports in January 2004 increased 35 percent compared to December 2003. The change in January’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs; and wire rods. January 2004 imports of finished steel products increased 24 percent compared to December 2003, while imports of semi-finished steel increased 75 percent.

January 2004 imports of steel mill products were down 8 percent compared to January 2003. January 2004 imports of finished steel were down 16 percent compared to January 2003, while semi-finished steel products were increased 20 percent compared to January 2003

Hot-Rolled Steel
January 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 27.8 percent from their December 2003 levels but were down 38 percent compared to January 2003 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel
January 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased less than 1 percent compared to December 2003 levels and were down 39 percent compared to January 2003 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate
January 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 66 percent compared to December 2003. January 2004 imports were down 8 percent compared to January 2003.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
January 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 9 percent compared to December 2003. January 2004 imports of these products were down 57 percent compared to January 2003.

Wire Rod
January 2004 imports of wire rod increased 58 percent compared to December 2003 levels and were up 54 percent compared to January 2003 levels.

Heavy Structurals
January 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 38 percent from their December 2003 level and were down 19 percent compared to January 2003 levels.

Rebar
January 2004 imports of rebar increased 119 percent compared to December 2003. January 2004 imports of these products were down 7 percent compared to January 2003.

Hot-Rolled Bar
January 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 3 percent compared to December 2003 but were down 7 percent compared to January 2003 levels.

Standard Pipe
January 2004 imports of standard pipe increased 22 percent compared to December 2003. January 2004 imports of these products were up 19 percent compared to January 2003.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
January 2004 imports of OCTG increased 150 percent compared to December 2003. January 2004 imports of these products were up 169 percent compared to January 2003.

Semi-Finished Steel
January 2004 imports of semi-finished steel increased 75 percent compared to December 2003 and were up 20 percent compared to January 2003 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.