United States Department of COMMERCE NEWS  
Washington, D.C. 20230
ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION
------------

Bureau of the Census

This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released 
before 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2001

  CB-01-92     Press Copy 
  FT-900A (01-04)

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

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

     The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced 
today that preliminary April steel imports were $1.0 billion (2.3 million 
metric tons).  This was  virtually the same as the $1.0 billion (2.3 million 
metric tons) reported in the preliminary March release.

     The March to April change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs and wire rods.  
Increases occurred primarily in line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter 
and cold rolled sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases 
primarily with Brazil and Australia.  Increases occurred primarily with South 
Africa and Germany.

     The year to date statistics through March  2001 showed steel imports of 
6.2 million metric tons, a decrease of 2.6 million metric tons from the 8.9 
million metric tons through March 2000.  The largest commodity decreases 
were in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot rolled sheets; and plates in coils.  
The largest country decreases were with Brazil, Canada, and  Taiwan.

**  NOTICE  **

     With this release, the U.S. Census Bureau is expanding the number of 
exhibits to provide steel product statistics in the following categories: 
alloy steel, stainless steel, and carbon (non-alloy) steel.  Also included 
are additional commodity statistics.  Detailed information at the "commodity 
by country" and "country by commodity" levels for alloy steel, stainless 
steel, and carbon (non-alloy) steel are provided on the Foreign Trade 
Division's website.  A revised 2001 release schedule is also available on the 
Foreign Trade Division's website at www.census.gov/foreign-trade.

**  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 June 26, 2001                                   


Monthly Release Schedule
	
Apr.     05-30-01     Wed.
May      06-26-01     Tues.
Jun.     07-31-01     Tues.
Jul.     08-28-01     Tues.
Aug.     09-25-01     Tues.
Sep.     10-30-01     Tues.
Oct.     11-27-01     Tues.
Nov.     12-27-01     Thurs.
Dec.     01-29-02     Tues.