This release contains sensitive economic 
data not to be released before 10:00 a.m. Thursday,January 25, 2001

CB-01-15                                                 Press Copy 
FT-900A (00-12)

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


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

     The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced 
today that preliminary December steel imports were $0.9 billion (2.0 million 
metric tons).  This was virtually the same as the $1.0 billion (2.0 million 
metric tons) reported from the preliminary November report.

     The November to December changes in steel imports, based on metric 
tonnage, reflected an increase primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs.  
Decreases occurred primarily in heavy structural shapes and hot rolled 
sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily 
with Mexico and Brazil.  Decreases occurred primarily with Canada, Australia, 
and China.
	
     The year to date final statistics through November 2000 showed steel 
imports of 32.3 million metric tons, an increase of 2.7 million metric tons 
from the 29.6 million metric tons through November 1999.  The largest 
commodity increases were in hot rolled sheets, heavy structural shapes, and 
oil country goods.  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 February 23, 2001                                   

Source:  FT-900A, Preliminary:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products,
	 December 2000, CB-01-15
	 For information contact:  Haydn Mearkle (301) 457-2246
				   Nick Orsini   (301) 457-2311

	 January 25,2001