June 2004

March Steel Imports Increased 22.4 Percent from February 2004

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of March 2004 show that steel imports increased 22.4 percent from February 2004 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in March 2004 increased 22.4 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports of finished steel products increased 24 percent compared to February 2004, and imports of semi-finished steel increased 16.4 percent.

March 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 5.5 percent compared to March 2003. March 2004 imports of finished steel was up 7.8 percent compared to March 2003, and semi-finished steel products decreased 2.6 percent compared to March 2003. January to March 2004 imports of steel mill products were up 3.8 percent compared to the same period in 2003. January to March 2004 imports of finished steel were up 0.5 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel are up 16.5 percent.  

Hot-Rolled Steel
March 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 32 percent from their February 2004 levels and were up 12.6 percent compared to March 2003 levels.   January to March 2004 imports of hot-rolled steel were down 17.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
March 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 6.7 percent compared to February 2004 levels and were down 12.9 percent compared to March 2003 levels.   January to March 2004 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 27.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
March 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 0.2 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports were down 25.4 percent compared to March 2003. January to March 2004 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.  

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
March 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 58.1 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports of these products decreased 3.7 percent compared to March 2003.   January to March 2004 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were down 36.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
March 2004 imports of wire rod increased 73.2 percent compared to February 2004 levels and were up14.2 percent compared to March 2003 levels.   January to March 2004 imports of wire rod were increased 53.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
March 2004 imports of heavy structurals decreased 27.1 percent from their February 2004 level and were up 23.4 percent compared to March 2003 levels.   January to March 2004 imports of heavy structurals were up 29 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
March 2004 imports of rebar decreased 24.5 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports of these products were up 5.5 percent compared to March 2003. January to March 2004 imports of rebar increased up 23.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
March 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 40 percent compared to February 2004 and were up 24.3 percent compared to March 2003 levels. January to March 2004 imports of hot-rolled bar were up 10.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
March 2004 imports of standard pipe decreased 6.9 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports of these products were up12 percent compared to March 2003, and January to March 2004 imports of standard pipe were up 4.6 percent compared to the same period last year.  

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
March 2004 imports of OCTG increased 33.9 percent compared to February 2004. March 2004 imports of these products were up 39.1 percent compared to March 2003. January to March 2004 imports of OCTG were up 66.3 percent compared to the same period last year.  

Semi-Finished Steel
March 2004 imports of semi-finished steel increased 16.4 percent compared to February 2004 and were down 2.6 percent compared to March 2003 levels. January to March 2004 imports of semi-finished steel were up 16.5 percent compared to the same period last year.