U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2005
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-05-23, FT900A (05-01)                                
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
January 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau, announced today that preliminary January steel imports 
were $1.8 billion (2.2 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary December 
totals of $2.0 billion (2.5 million metric tons).        

The December to January change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected decreases primarily in wire rods, cold rolled sheets, and hot dipped 
galvanized sheets.  An increase occurred primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs.  
Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with China, 
Argentina, and Mexico.  Increases occurred primarily with Brazil and Canada.

The year to date final statistics through December 2004 showed steel imports of 
32.5 million metric tons, an increase of 11.5 million metric tons from the 21.0 
million metric tons through December 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, China, 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 March 29, 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)