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, 
January 25, 2004
                                
CB-05-09     Press Copy 
FT-900A (04-12) 

For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311
                                
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
December 2004

The U.S. Census Bureau, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that 
preliminary December steel imports were $2.0 billion (2.5 million metric tons) 
compared with $2.1 billion (2.8 million metric tons) in the preliminary November 
report.      

The November to December change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot rolled sheets; 
and reinforcing bars.  An increase occurred primarily in wire rods.  Monthly 
changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with Russia and Turkey. 
Increases occurred primarily with China and Mexico.

The year to date final statistics through November 2004 showed steel imports of 
29.8 million metric tons, compared with 19.4 million metric tons through November 
2003.  The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot 
rolled sheets; and wire rods.  The largest country increases were with Russia, 
Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, and China.

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 February 23, 2005           
		
CONTACT:  For more information, contact Nick Orsini (301-763-6959) or Vanessa Ware
(301-763-2311), Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau.

SOURCE:  U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products: Preliminary
December 2004 (CB-05-09)