U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, October 25, 2005
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-05-150, FT900A (05-09)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
September 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary September steel imports 
were $1.5 billion (2.0 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary August 
totals of $1.8 billion (2.0 million metric tons).                          

The August to September change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected decreases in oil country goods and reinforcing bars. Monthly increases 
occurred primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs; and hot rolled sheets.  Monthly 
changes in steel imports reflected  decreases primarily with Mexico and Germany.  
Increases occurred primarily with Australia, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. 

The year to date statistics through August 2005 showed steel imports of 19.7 
million metric tons, compared with 20.2 million metric tons through August 2004.  
The largest commodity decreases were in wire rods, hot rolled sheets, and 
reinforcing bars.   An increase occurred primarily in oil country goods. The 
largest country decreases were with Turkey, Brazil, Australia, India and Russia.  
The largest country increase was with 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 November 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   
September 2005 (CB-05-150)