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 May 2006 April 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 91,728 292,328 75,035 250,085 Ingots And Steel For Castings 2,318 4,318 2,514 4,862 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,986 31,436 9,138 25,077 Wire Rods 1,813 5,149 2,106 5,541 Structural Shapes Heavy 281 962 219 816 Plates Cut Lengths 4,612 16,929 3,286 12,145 Plates In Coils 3,831 10,284 1,861 5,653 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,933 9,030 1,488 7,029 Bars - Light Shaped 937 2,683 888 2,206 Bars - Cold Finished 6,823 25,882 6,962 27,692 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 12,785 63,527 10,525 60,887 Wire Drawn 3,947 17,686 3,425 15,175 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,390 2,316 565 878 Sheets Cold Rolled 36,629 89,817 29,017 69,899 Strip - Hot Rolled 120 207 254 557 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,323 12,102 2,786 11,668 -------------------------------------------------------------- April 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 76,737 255,734 Ingots And Steel For Castings 2,759 5,390 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 9,273 25,347 Wire Rods 2,106 5,541 Structural Shapes Heavy 284 1,085 Plates Cut Lengths 3,344 12,266 Plates In Coils 1,986 5,999 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,501 7,138 Bars - Light Shaped 888 2,206 Bars - Cold Finished 7,043 28,088 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 10,687 62,430 Wire Drawn 3,437 15,209 Sheets Hot Rolled 565 878 Sheets Cold Rolled 29,697 71,535 Strip - Hot Rolled 254 557 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,912 12,062 -------------------------------------------------------------- May 2005 April 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 72,762 265,480 76,815 262,713 Ingots And Steel For Castings 524 1,475 1,998 5,295 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 13,092 38,084 16,018 45,181 Wire Rods 4,108 12,053 3,692 9,893 Structural Shapes Heavy 198 934 130 510 Plates Cut Lengths 2,301 10,651 4,481 19,095 Plates In Coils 1,824 6,320 2,207 7,076 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,969 7,857 2,203 8,455 Bars - Light Shaped 468 1,583 538 1,800 Bars - Cold Finished 8,951 33,946 8,419 32,773 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 10,941 63,851 11,044 53,161 Wire Drawn 3,990 18,075 3,349 14,984 Sheets Hot Rolled 711 1,630 970 1,936 Sheets Cold Rolled 20,392 56,053 18,117 48,758 Strip - Hot Rolled 290 1,025 190 381 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,003 11,942 3,458 13,414 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 May 2006 (CB-06-100)