This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released
before 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 21, 2000

CB-00-153                                                   Press Copy 
FT-900A (00-08)

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

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

    The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced
today that preliminary August steel imports were $1.3 billion (3.2 million
metric tons).  This was virtually the same quantity and a decrease of $0.1
billion from the preliminary July totals of $1.4 billion (3.2 million metric
tons).

    The July to August change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage,
reflected increases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs and plates in
coils.  Decreases occurred primarily in hot rolled sheets and cold rolled
sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with
Brazil and India.  Decreases occurred with Japan and Taiwan.

    The year to date final statistics through July of 2000 showed steel
imports of 21.6 million metric tons, an increase of 3.4 million metric tons
from the 18.3 million metric tons through July of 1999.  The largest
commodity increases were in hot rolled sheets and blooms, billets, and
slabs.  The largest country increases were with Ukraine, China and India.

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 October 26, 2000                                  

Source:  FT-900A, Preliminary:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel
         Products, August 2000, CB-00-153
         For information contact:  Haydn Mearkle (301) 457-2246
                                   Nick Orsini   (301) 457-2311

         September 21, 2000