U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2005
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-05-89, FT900A (05-05)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
May 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary May steel imports were 
$2.0 billion (2.4 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary April totals 
of $2.2 billion (2.7 million metric tons).                 

The April to May change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected 
decreases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot rolled sheets; and cold 
rolled sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily 
with Brazil, Russia, and Korea.  An increase occurred primarily with Turkey. 

The year to date statistics through April 2005 showed steel imports of 10.4 
million metric tons, compared with 8.4 million metric tons through April 2004.  
The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; cold rolled 
sheets; hot rolled sheets; and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip.  A 
decrease occurred primarily in wire rods.  The largest country increases were 
with China, Russia, Korea, and Brazil. 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 July 26, 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   
May 2005 (CB-05-89)