April 2003 Steel Imports Down 20.6 Percent

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of April 2003 show that steel imports decreased 20.6 percent from March 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products  
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in April 2003 decreased 20.6 percent compared to March 2003. The decrease in April’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of wire rod and blooms, billets and slabs. April 2003 imports of finished steel products decreased 16.8 percent compared to March 2003, and imports of semi-finished steel fell 34.1 percent.

April 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 9.3 percent compared to April 2002. April 2003 imports of finished steel was down 3.4 percent compared to April 2003, and semi-finished steel products were also down 29 percent compared to April 2002. January to April 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 19 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to April 2003 imports of finished steel were down 10.3 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel are down 41.5 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel
April 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 3.8 percent from their March 2003 levels and were up 19.5 percent compared to April 2002 levels. January to April 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 10.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
April 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 13.8 percent compared to March 2003 levels and were up 7.2 percent compared to April 2002 levels. January to April 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 14.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
April 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 40.2 percent compared to March 2003. April 2003 imports were up 4.7 percent compared to April 2002. January to April 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 34 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
April 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 5.3 percent compared to March 2003. April 2003 imports of these products were up 59.2 percent compared to April 2002. January to April 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 13.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
April 2003 imports of wire rod decreased 51.8 percent compared to March 2003 levels and were down 43.8 percent compared to April 2002 levels. January to April 2003 imports of wire rod were down 19.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
April 2003 imports of heavy structurals decreased 2 percent from their March 2003 level and were down 28.2 percent compared to April 2002 levels. January to April 2003 imports of heavy structurals were down 36.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
April 2003 imports of rebar decreased 64.3 percent compared to March 2003. April 2003 imports of these products were down 56.8 percent compared to April 2002. January to April 2003 imports of rebar were down 51.7% percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
April 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar decreased 18.5 percent compared to March 2003 and decreased 18 percent compared to April 2002 levels. January to April 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 5.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
April 2003 imports of standard pipe increased 18.8 percent compared to March 2003. April 2003 imports of these products increased 18 percent compared to April 2002, and January to April 2003 imports of standard pipe were down 17.4% percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
April 2003 imports of OCTG increased 32.5 percent compared to March 2003. April 2003 imports of these products were up 70.9 percent compared to April 2002. January to April 2003 imports of OCTG were up 17.4 percent compared to the same period last year.