U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, November 29, 2005
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-05-167, FT900A (05-10)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
October 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary October steel imports 
were $1.8 billion (2.5 million metric tons).  This was an increase of $0.3 
billion (0.5 million metric tons) from the preliminary September totals of $1.5 
billion (2.0 million metric tons).                             

The September to October change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected increases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs; and hot rolled 
sheets.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with 
Brazil and Mexico. 

The year to date statistics through September 2005 showed steel imports of 21.8 
million metric tons, compared with 23.5 million metric tons through September 
2004.  The largest commodity decreases were in wire rods; hot rolled sheets;  
reinforcing bars; and blooms, billets, and slabs.   An increase occurred 
primarily in oil country goods. The largest country decreases were with Turkey, 
Brazil, 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 December 28, 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   
October 2005 (CB-05-167)