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, 
November 30, 2004
                                
CB-04-213     Press Copy 
FT-900A (04-10) 

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

The U.S. Census Bureau, through the Department of Commerce, announced 
today that preliminary October steel imports were $2.1 billion (2.9 
million metric tons).  This was a decrease of $0.1 billion (0.2 million 
metric tons) from the preliminary September  totals of $2.2 billion 
(3.1 million metric tons).  

The September to October change in steel imports, based on metric 
tonnage, reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs;  
and wire rods.  An increase occurred primarily in cold rolled sheets. 
Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with 
Brazil, Mexico, and Russia. 

The year to date final statistics through September 2004 showed steel 
imports of 23.5 million metric tons, compared with 16.0 million metric 
tons through September 2003.  The largest commodity increases were in 
blooms, billets, and slabs; wire rods; and hot rolled sheets.  The 
largest country increases were with Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey.

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 December 21, 2004                            

CONTACT:  For more information, contact Nick Orsini (301-763-2311), Foreign Trade
Division, U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products: Preliminary
October 2004 (CB-04-213)