U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST Tuesday, January 31, 2006
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-06-11, FT900A (05-12)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
December 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary December steel imports 
were $1.8 billion (2.5 million metric tons) compared with $1.7 billion (2.1 
million metric tons) in the preliminary November report.                      

The November to December change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected  increases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot rolled sheets; 
and wire rods. A decrease occurred primarily in reinforcing bars.  Monthly 
changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with Ukraine, Brazil, 
Korea, and China. Decreases occurred primarily with Turkey and Russia. 

The year to date statistics through November 2005 showed steel imports of 26.5 
million metric tons, compared with 29.8 million metric tons through November 2004.  
The largest commodity decreases occurred primarily in hot rolled sheets and wire 
rods.  An increase occurred primarily in oil country goods. The largest country 
decreases were with Turkey, Russia, and Brazil.  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 February 28, 2006

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 2005 (CB-06-11)