U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2005
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-05-69, FT900A (05-04)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
April 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary April steel imports were 
$2.2 billion (2.7 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary March totals 
of $1.9 billion (2.3 million metric tons).            

The March  to April change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected 
increases primarily in wire rods; blooms, billets, and slabs; and oil country 
goods.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with 
Brazil, China, and Korea.  Decreases primarily occurred with Russia and 
Thailand.

The year to date statistics through March 2005 showed steel imports of 7.6 
million metric tons, compared with 6.1 million metric tons through March 2004.  
The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; cold rolled 
sheets; hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip; and hot rolled sheets.  A 
decrease occurred primarily in wire rods.  The largest country increases were 
with China, Russia, Taiwan, and Korea The largest country decrease was with 
Australia.

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 June 1, 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   
March 2005 (CB-05-54)