Exhibit 1b: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Stainless Steel Products: (Census Basis) Not Seasonally Adjusted Quantity in metric tons/ value in thousands of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to rounding March 2006 February 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 78,099 247,398 72,283 229,861 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,447 3,660 865 3,052 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 9,808 27,794 9,058 24,279 Wire Rods 2,119 5,565 1,732 4,565 Structural Shapes Heavy 160 476 51 182 Plates Cut Lengths 3,216 10,508 3,837 12,921 Plates In Coils 2,260 6,235 1,668 4,723 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,383 6,292 1,075 4,788 Bars - Light Shaped 659 1,795 472 1,361 Bars - Cold Finished 7,146 25,161 6,450 23,739 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 9,445 53,302 8,564 49,944 Wire Drawn 3,841 15,996 2,864 12,893 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,748 3,158 1,346 2,244 Sheets Cold Rolled 31,269 73,992 31,696 74,646 Strip - Hot Rolled 253 758 231 746 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,345 12,706 2,374 9,779 -------------------------------------------------------------- February 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 73,117 232,916 Ingots And Steel For Castings 865 3,052 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 9,460 25,176 Wire Rods 1,732 4,565 Structural Shapes Heavy 51 182 Plates Cut Lengths 3,961 13,202 Plates In Coils 1,672 4,745 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,075 4,788 Bars - Light Shaped 472 1,361 Bars - Cold Finished 6,460 23,886 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 8,660 50,844 Wire Drawn 2,865 12,899 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,346 2,244 Sheets Cold Rolled 31,842 75,129 Strip - Hot Rolled 251 746 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,404 10,098 -------------------------------------------------------------- March 2005 February 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 81,608 268,420 82,775 264,608 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,660 4,902 1,984 4,477 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 16,359 43,615 15,727 40,147 Wire Rods 3,164 8,850 2,970 8,001 Structural Shapes Heavy 201 816 102 338 Plates Cut Lengths 3,916 15,947 3,218 10,559 Plates In Coils 2,417 7,683 2,286 6,680 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,130 7,647 1,835 7,676 Bars - Light Shaped 629 2,008 1,041 3,137 Bars - Cold Finished 8,541 32,711 6,764 27,534 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 9,342 47,357 9,975 48,653 Wire Drawn 3,400 14,481 3,252 12,930 Sheets Hot Rolled 837 1,215 499 1,074 Sheets Cold Rolled 26,034 68,964 30,073 80,628 Strip - Hot Rolled 37 85 115 250 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,942 12,138 2,934 12,524 NOTE: See the cover report specifically explaining the current month's preliminary steel imports trade data or www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/steel_index.html. 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 March 2006 (CB-06-61)