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

CB-06-78, FT900A (06-04)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
April 2006

The U.S. Census Bureau, announced today that preliminary April steel imports
were $2.3 billion (3.2 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary March 
totals of $2.4 billion (3.5 million metric tons).    

The March to April change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected 
decreases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs and hot rolled sheets.  
Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with Brazil and 
Mexico. 

The year to date final statistics through March 2006 showed steel imports of 
10.2 million metric tons, an increase of 2.6 million metric tons from the 7.6 
million metric tons through March 2005.  The largest commodity increases were 
in blooms, billets, and slabs and reinforcing bars.  The largest country increases 
were with Russia, China, Turkey, and Australia.  The largest country decrease was 
with Mexico.  

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 June 27, 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   
April 2006 (CB-06-78)