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. Tuesday, June 25, 2002
                                
CB-02-84     Press Copy 
FT-900A (02-05)

For information contact:
Haydn Mearkle    (301) 457-2246
Nick Orsini         (301) 457-2311                                 
                                
                                
	Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products May 2002

     The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced 
today that preliminary May steel imports were $0.7 billion (1.6 million metric 
tons).  This was virtually the same value and a decrease of 0.1 million metric 
tons from the preliminary April totals of $0.8 billion (1.7 million metric tons).

     The April to May change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected a decrease primarily in wire rods.  Increases occurred primarily in 
reinforcing bars and hot rolled sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports 
reflected a decrease primarily with Mexico.  An increase occurred primarily 
with Russia. 

     The year to date final statistics through April of 2002 showed steel imports 
of 9.3 million metric tons, an increase of 0.6 million metric tons from the 8.6 
million metric tons through April of 2001.  The largest  commodity increase was in
blooms, billets and slabs.  The largest country increases were with Brazil and Canada.

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 July 30, 2002

Notice

Effective March 20, new duties were imposed on steel products under the 
safeguard measures provision of the Trade Act of 1974.  This release includes 
new exhibits (Exhibits 5 and 6) that provide information on imports of goods 
by Section 201 remedy category.  Users should note that:

1.   The categories are aggregations of steel products defined by the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule and include some transactions that are not subject 
to the safeguard measures.

2. The product category aggregations in Exhibit 5 show imports from all countries, 
not just those subject to the safeguard measures.

3. The countries in Exhibit 6 show steel imports from countries primarily 
excluded from the safeguard measures, however, these measures may apply to some 
transactions from some countries in this exhibit.

SOURCE: Report FT900A (CB-02-84), U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade
        Division, Preliminary MAY 2002.  For more information, contact 
        Haydn R. Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.