This release contains sensitive economic 
data not to be released before 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 27, 2000

CB-00-119                                            Press Copy 
FT-900A (00-06)

For information contact:
Haydn Mearkle    (301) 457-2246
Nick Orsini      (301) 457-2311 


       Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
                              June 2000

    The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced
today that preliminary June steel imports were $1.3 billion (3.0 million
metric tons).  This was virtually the same quantity and a decrease of
$0.1 billion from the preliminary May totals of $1.4 billion (3.0 million
metric tons).

    The May to June change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage,
reflected a decrease primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs.  Increases
occurred primarily in reinforcing bars and hot rolled sheets.   Monthly
changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with China, Canada,
and Japan.  Increases occurred primarily with Ukraine, India, and Russia.

    The year to date final statistics through May of 2000 showed steel
imports of 15.4 million metric tons, an increase of 2.9 million metric tons
from the 12.5 million metric tons through May of 1999.  The largest commodity
increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs and hot rolled sheets.  The
largest country increases were with Ukraine, Taiwan, and Brazil.

Notes:
        
The data in this report are preliminary and subject to revisions.

Analysis of recent months for steel product imports indicates the value of
preliminary data should equal about 96 percent of the final value reported
in the regular monthly trade statistics report.  Preliminary data reported
for individual steel categories and at the individual country of origin
level have been less consistently predictive of the final data reported in
the regular monthly trade statistics. For further details visit the Foreign
Trade Division web site at: www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/.  On the web
site you can access product by country and country by product tables.

The next release is August 24, 2000                                     

Source:  FT-900A, Preliminary:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel
         Products June 2000, CB-00-119
         For information contact:  Haydn Mearkle (301) 457-2246
                                   Nick Orsini   (301) 457-2311
         July 27, 2000