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Steel Imports up 31 Percent in March from February

Rise Primarily Caused by Increase in Imports of Wire Rods, Booms, Slabs and Billets

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of March 2003 show that steel imports increased 31 percent from February 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in March 2003 increased 31 percent compared to February 2003. The increase in March's total amount of steel imports was due primarily to an increase in imports of wire rods, blooms, slabs, and billets. March 2003 imports of finished steel products increased 27 percent compared to February 2003, and imports of semi-finished steel increased 50 percent.

March 2003 imports of steel mill products were up 1 percent compared to March 2002. March 2003 imports of finished steel were up 9 percent compared to March 2002, and semi-finished steel products decreased 22 percent compared to March 2002. January to March 2003 imports of steel mill products down 22 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to March 2002 imports of finished steel were down 12 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel are down 47 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel
March 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 5 percent from their February 2003 levels and were up 10 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel were up 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
March 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 12 percent compared to February 2003 levels and were up 6 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
March 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 76 percent compared to February 2003. March 2003 imports were down 26 percent compared to March 2002. January to March 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 40 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
March 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 5 percent compared to February 2003. March 2003 imports of these products increased 65 percent compared to March 2002. January to March 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were up 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
March 2003 imports of wire rod increased 324 percent compared to February 2003 levels but were increased 4 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2003 imports of wire rod were decreased 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
March 2003 imports of heavy structurals increased 25 percent from their February 2003 level and were down 47 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2002 imports of heavy structurals were down 39 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
March 2003 imports of rebar increased 39 percent compared to February 2003. March 2003 imports of these products were up 65 percent compared to March 2002. January to March 2002 imports of rebar decreased up 52 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
March 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 30 percent compared to February 2003 and were up 16 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
March 2003 imports of standard pipe decreased 26 percent compared to February 2003. March 2003 imports of these products were up 8 percent compared to March 2002, and January to March 2003 imports of standard pipe were down 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
March 2003 imports of OCTG decreased 7 percent compared to February 2003. March 2003 imports of these products were up 27 percent compared to March 2002. January to March 2003 imports of OCTG were down 0.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel
March 2003 imports of semi-finished steel increased 50 percent compared to February 2003 and were down 22 percent compared to March 2002 levels. January to March 2003 imports of semi-finished steel were down 47 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.