U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST Tuesday, February 28, 2006
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB-06-29, FT900A (06-01)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
January 2006

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary January steel imports 
were $2.0 billion (2.9 million metric tons) compared with $1.8 billion (2.5 
million metric tons) in the preliminary December 2005 report.                    

The December to January change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected  increases primarily in wire rods; and blooms, billets, and slabs. 
A decrease occurred primarily in cold rolled sheets.  Monthly changes in steel 
imports reflected increases primarily with Russia, Australia, and China. A 
decrease occurred primarily with the Ukraine. 

The year to date final statistics through December 2005 showed steel imports of 
29.1 million metric tons, compared with 32.5 million metric tons through 
December 2004.  The largest commodity decreases occurred primarily in wire rods; 
hot rolled sheets; cold rolled sheets; and hot dipped galvanized sheets and 
strip.  An increase occurred primarily in oil country goods. The largest country 
decreases were with Turkey, Russia, and Brazil.  The largest country increases 
were with China and Canada. 

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 March 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   
January 2006 (CB-06-29)