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, 
December 21, 2004
                                
CB-04-213     Press Copy 
FT-900A (04-11) 

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

The U.S. Census Bureau, through the Department of Commerce, 
announced today that preliminary November steel imports were 
$2.1 billion (2.8 million metric tons).  This was virtually 
the same value and a decrease of 0.1 million metric tons from 
the preliminary October  totals of $2.1 billion (2.9 million 
metric tons).   

The October to November change in steel imports, based on 
metric tonnage, reflected decreases primarily in wire rods 
and line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter.  Monthly 
changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with 
China, Mexico, Ukraine, and India.  Increases occured primarily
with Turkey and Australia.

The year to date final statistics through October 2004 showed 
steel imports of 26.7 million metric tons, compared with 17.7 
million metric tons through October 2003.  The largest 
commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot 
rolled sheets; and wire rods.  The largest country increases 
were with Russia, Brazil, Mexico, 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 January 25, 2005

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
November 2004 (CB-04-213)