Not Seasonally Adjusted

   Exhibit 4b. U.S. Imports For Consumption of Stainless Steel Products From
                Selected Countries and Areas:  (Census Basis)

              Quantity in metric tons/value In thousands of dollars.
         (-) Represents zero or less than one half of measurement shown.
                   Details may not equal totals due to rounding.

                                     December 2001           December 2000
                                     Cumulative To           Cumulative To
                                     Date - Final            Date - Final
         Countries and                                   
             Areas                 Quantity     Value      Quantity     Value

Total Census Basis                  847,387   1,604,003   1,069,495   2,175,918
North America                       194,362     366,815     202,483     437,073
        Canada                      111,510     246,379     103,006     265,432
        Mexico                       82,853     120,435      99,477     171,641
Western Europe                      448,352     770,416     529,503   1,031,172
    Euro Area                       323,801     542,975     392,102     737,960
    European Union                  445,573     760,051     524,439   1,016,612
        Austria                       3,546      14,351       3,316      14,364
        Belgium                      31,730      50,663      73,565     123,215
        Finland                       6,140      11,019      10,271      22,717
        France                       35,570      91,399      42,167     109,920
        Germany                      31,190      80,333      41,303     106,982
        Italy                        57,193     122,079      66,888     143,376
        Netherlands                     429       1,616         331       1,881
        Spain                       157,449     170,279     154,232     215,355
        Sweden                       53,124     120,164      52,311     142,289
        United Kingdom               66,270      91,823      77,395     130,104
        Other EU                      2,933       6,326       2,659       6,411
    European Free Trade         
    Association                       2,040       8,779       2,203       9,427
        Norway                          358         926         (-)         (-)
        Switzerland                   1,682       7,853       2,203       9,427
        Other EFTA                      (-)         (-)         (-)         (-)
    Turkey                               25         237          55          55
    Other Western Europe                713       1,349       2,806       5,078
Eastern Europe/FSR                    2,865       4,795       3,953       7,283
        Poland                          166         330         190         364
        Former Soviet Republics       1,879       3,050       1,812       2,866
            Moldova                     (-)         (-)         (-)         (-)
            Ukraine                     207         334         178         219
            Russia                    1,643       2,655       1,633       2,643
            Other FSR                    29          61           1           4
        Other EE                        820       1,415       1,950       4,054
Pacific Rim Countries               145,376     350,678     222,898     519,877
        Australia                       171         991         318       1,810
        China                         8,571      18,324       9,738      21,876
        Indonesia                       524         794       1,562       2,882
        Japan                        28,665     118,757      29,097     102,998
        Korea                        40,830      87,218      81,928     172,437
        Taiwan                       63,136     116,828      96,080     208,530
        Other Pacific Rim             3,478       7,766       4,174       9,343
South/Central America                16,677      48,668      21,959      31,286
        Argentina                       (-)         (-)          21          34
        Brazil                       10,654      16,021      21,217      29,727
        Colombia                        (-)           2          13          36
        Venezuela                     5,177      30,840         (-)         (-)
        Other S/C A                     847       1,804         709       1,488
Other Countries                      39,755      62,632      88,699     149,228
        India                        19,680      31,080      30,501      52,312
        South Africa                 13,867      19,314      44,464      69,441
        Other                         6,208      12,238      13,734      27,475

CONTACT: For more information, contact Haydn R. Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick
         Orsini (301-457-2311), Foreign Trade Division, U. S. Census Bureau.

NOTE:  For information on more detailed data available, please see record
       titled "MORE DETAILED FOREIGN TRADE DATA  AVAILABLE."