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, 
Spetember 28, 2004
                                
CB-04-164     Press Copy 
FT-900A (04-08) 

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

The U.S. Census Bureau, through the Department of Commerce, announced today 
that preliminary August steel imports were $2.2 billion (3.1 million metric 
tons).  This was an increase of $0.3 billion (0.4 million metric tons) from 
the preliminary July totals of $1.9 billion (2.7 million metric tons).   

The July to August change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected 
increases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs;  reinforcing bars; standard 
pipe; and hot rolled sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected 
increases primarily with Russia, China, Taiwan, Canada, and Mexico.    

The year to date final statistics through July 2004 showed steel imports of 
17.0 million metric tons, compared with 12.7 million metric tons through July 
2003.  The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; 
wire rods; reinforcing bars; and hot rolled sheets.  The largest country 
increases were with Brazil, Turkey, Russia, 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 October 26, 2004                            

SOURCE: Report FT900A (CB-04-164), U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade
        Division, Preliminary August 2004.  For more information, contact 
        Haydn R. Mearkle (301-763-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-763-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.