Steel imports for March 2005 increased 2 percent from February

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of March 2005 show that steel imports increased 2 percent from February 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data show that overall steel imports in March 2005 increased 2 percent compared to February 2005. The change in March’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to increases in hot-rolled sheets and plates in coils. March 2005 imports of finished steel products increased 10 percent compared to February 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent.

March 2005 imports of steel mill products were up 4 percent compared to March 2004. March 2005 imports of finished steel were up 3 percent compared to March 2004, while semi-finished steel products increased 5 percent compared to March 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel
March 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 33 percent from their February 2005 levels and were up 46 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel
March 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 21 percent compared to February 2005 levels and were up 75 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate
March 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 18 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 64 percent compared to March 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
March 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 24 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports of these products were up 38 percent compared to March 2004.

Wire Rod
March 2005 imports of wire rod increased 14 percent compared to February 2005 levels and were down 85 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals
March 2005 imports of heavy structurals increased 58 percent from their February 2005 level and were up 19 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Rebar
March 2005 imports of rebar decreased 9 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports of these products were up 29 percent compared to March 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar
March 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 9 percent compared to February 2005 and were down 35 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe
March 2005 imports of standard pipe increased 8 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports of these products were up 24 percent compared to March 2004.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
March 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 41 percent compared to February 2004. March 2005 imports of these products were up 16 percent compared to March 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel
March 2005 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 21 percent compared to February 2005 but were up 5 percent compared to March 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Since May 2001 the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) expanded its early release of steel import data to include separate breakouts for carbon, alloy and stainless steel in each of the product categories. The following lists some of the highlights from these new breakouts:

Carbon Steel
Overall imports of carbon steel products in March 2005 increased less than 1 percent from their February 2005 levels and increased 1 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel: Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in March 2005 increased 31 percent compared to February 2005 and were up 49 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel: Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in March 2005 increased 35 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 98 percent compared to March 2004.

Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in March 2005 increased 14 percent compared to February 2005 and were up 15 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Tool Steel: Imports of tool steel in March 2005 increased 4 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 22 percent compared to March 2004.

Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in March 2005 decreased 3 percent from their February 2005 level and were up 25 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel: Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in March 2005 increased 13 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 4 percent compared to March 2004.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel: Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in March 2005 decreased 14 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 14 percent compared to March 2004.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars: Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in March 2005 increased 10 percent compared to February 2005 and were down 11 percent compared to March 2004 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars: Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in March 2005 increased 25 percent compared to February 2005. March 2005 imports were up 61 percent compared to March 2004.