November 2003

August Steel Imports Decreased by 22 Percent from July 2003

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of August 2003 show that steel imports decreased 22 percent from July 2003 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products
The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in August 2003 decreased 22 percent compared to July 2003. The decrease in August’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a decrease in imports of blooms, billets, and slabs. August 2003 imports of semi-finished steel products decreased 54 percent compared to July 2003, and imports of hot-rolled steel decreased by 13 percent.

August 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 42 percent compared to August 2002. August 2003 imports of finished steel were down 30 percent compared to August 2002, while semi-finished steel products were down 69 percent compared to August 2002. January to August 2003 imports of steel mill products were down 25 percent compared to the same period in 2002. January to August 2003 imports of finished steel were down 16 percent compared to the same period last year, while imports of semi-finished steel were down 47 percent.

Hot-Rolled Steel
August 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel decreased 13 percent from their July 2003 levels and were down 52 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of hot-rolled steel were down 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cold-Rolled Steel
August 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel down 9 percent compared to July 2003 levels and were down 52 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of cold-rolled steel were down 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Cut-to-Length Plate
August 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate decreased 22 percent compared to July 2003. August 2003 imports were down 46 percent compared to August 2002. January to August 2003 imports of cut-to-length plate were down 26 percent compared to the same period last year.

Corrosion-Resistant Steel
August 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel decreased 17 percent compared to July 2003. August 2003 imports of these products were down 46 percent compared to August 2002. January to August 2003 imports of corrosion-resistant steel were down 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Wire Rod
August 2003 imports of wire rod decreased 23 percent compared to July 2003 levels, and were down 32 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of wire rod were down 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Heavy Structurals
August 2003 imports of heavy structurals increased 53 percent from their July 2003 level and were down 20 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of heavy structurals were down 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rebar
August 2003 imports of rebar were down 1 percent compared to July 2003. August 2003 imports of these products were up 5 percent compared to August 2002. January to August 2003 imports of rebar were down 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

Hot-Rolled Bar
August 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 3 percent compared to July 2003 and were down 16 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of hot-rolled bar were down 6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Standard Pipe
August 2003 imports of standard pipe decreased 13 percent compared to July 2003. August 2003 imports of these products were down 15 percent compared to August 2002, and January to August 2003 imports of standard pipe were down 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)
August 2003 imports of OCTG decreased 29 percent compared to July 2003. August 2003 imports of these products were up 103 percent compared to August 2002. January to August 2003 imports of OCTG were up 48 percent compared to the same period last year.

Semi-Finished Steel
August 2003 imports of semi-finished steel decreased 54 percent compared to July 2003 and were down 69 percent compared to August 2002 levels. January to August 2003 imports of semi-finished steel were down 47 percent compared to the same period last year.