Steel imports for September 2005 decreased 5 percent

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of September 2005 show that steel imports decreased 5 percent from August 2005 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data show that overall steel imports in September 2005 decreased 5 percent compared to August 2005.

The change in September’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in oil country goods and reinforcing bars.

September 2005 imports of finished steel products decreased 8 percent compared to August 2005, while imports of semi-finished steel increased by 7 percent.

September 2005 imports of steel mill products were down 40 percent compared to September 2004. September 2005 imports of finished steel were down 38 percent compared to September 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 46 percent compared to September 2004.

Hot-Rolled Steel
September 2005 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 32 percent from their August 2005 levels and were down 49 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Cold-Rolled Steel
September 2005 imports of cold-rolled steel increased 1 percent compared to August 2005 levels. Imports of cold-rolled steel were down 44 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Cut-to-Length Plate
September 2005 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 28 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports were up 26 percent compared to September 2004.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
September 2005 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 12 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 49 percent compared to September 2004.

Wire Rod
September 2005 imports of wire rod increased 3 percent compared to August 2005 levels and were down 59 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Heavy Structurals
September 2005 imports of heavy structurals decreased 16 percent from their August 2005 level and were down 5 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Rebar
September 2005 imports of rebar decreased 49 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 74 percent compared to September 2004.

Hot-Rolled Bar
September 2005 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 18 percent compared to August 2005 and were down 27 percent from September 2004 levels.

Standard Pipe
September 2005 imports of standard pipe decreased 15 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were up 7 percent.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
September 2005 imports of OCTG decreased 43 percent compared to August 2005. September 2005 imports of these products were down 10 percent compared to September 2004.

Semi-Finished Steel
September 2005 imports of semi-finished steel increased 7 percent compared to August 2005 and were down 46 percent compared to September 2004 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

EXPANDED BREAKOUT BY GRADE

Carbon Steel
Overall imports of carbon steel products in September 2005 decreased 6 percent from their August 2005 levels and decreased 44 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Alloy Steel
Overall imports of alloy steel products in September 2005 were unchanged from August 2005 and were down 3 percent compared to September 2004 levels.

Stainless Steel
Overall imports of stainless steel products in September 2005 decreased 10 percent from their August 2005 level and were down 20 percent compared to September 2004 levels.