This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released 
before 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 23, 2001

CB-01-36                                                      Press Copy 
FT-900A (01-01)

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


       Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
				January 2001

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

     The December to January change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected increases primarily in reinforcing bars and cold rolled sheets.  
Decreases occurred primarily in wire rods and blooms, billets, and slabs.  
Monthly changes in steel imports reflected an increase primarily with Canada 
and a decrease primarily with Germany.
	
     The year to date final statistics through December 2000 showed steel 
imports of 34.4 million metric tons, an increase of 2.0 million metric tons 
from 32.4 million metric tons through December 1999.  The largest commodity 
increases were in hot rolled sheets, oil country goods, and heavy structural 
shapes. The largest commodity decreases were in cold rolled sheets and hot 
dipped galvanized sheets and strip.  The largest country increases were with 
Ukraine, China, and India.  The largest country decreases were with Japan, 
Korea, and Mexico.

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 March 22, 2001                                   

Source:  FT-900A, Preliminary:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel
	 Products, January 2001, CB-01-36
	 For information contact:  Haydn Mearkle (301) 457-2246
				   Nick Orsini   (301) 457-2311

	 February 23, 2001