United States Department of COMMERCE NEWS  
Washington, D.C. 20230             

ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Census Bureau
                                
This release contains sensitive economic 
data not to be released before 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, 
August 31, 2004
                                
CB-04-139     Press Copy 
FT-900A (04-07)                           

For information contact:
Haydn Mearkle    (301) 763-2246
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-2311                                
                                
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
July 2004

The U.S. Census Bureau, through the Department of Commerce, announced today 
that preliminary July steel imports were $1.9 billion (2.7 million metric tons) 
compared with $1.9 billion (2.9 million metric tons) in the preliminary June 
report.  

The June to July change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected a 
decrease primarily in blooms, billets and slabs.  Monthly changes in steel 
imports reflected decreases primarily with Brazil, Russia, and Canada.    

The year to date final statistics through June 2004 showed steel imports of 14.1 
million metric tons, compared with 10.8 million metric tons through June 2003.  
The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets and slabs; wire rods; 
and reinforcing bars.  The largest country increases were with Brazil, Russia, 
Turkey, 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 September 28, 2004                            

SOURCE: Report FT900A (CB-04-139), U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade
        Division, Preliminary July 2004.  For more information, contact 
        Haydn R. Mearkle (301-763-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-763-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.