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 June 2006 May 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 85,065 286,948 91,728 292,328 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,864 3,910 2,318 4,318 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,101 30,709 10,986 31,436 Wire Rods 1,749 4,855 1,813 5,149 Structural Shapes Heavy 91 249 281 962 Plates Cut Lengths 5,316 19,312 4,612 16,929 Plates In Coils 4,005 10,860 3,831 10,284 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,658 7,656 1,933 9,030 Bars - Light Shaped 716 2,038 937 2,683 Bars - Cold Finished 7,705 29,427 6,823 25,882 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 10,332 57,932 12,785 63,527 Wire Drawn 3,598 16,141 3,947 17,686 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,683 2,535 1,390 2,316 Sheets Cold Rolled 32,412 85,367 36,629 89,817 Strip - Hot Rolled 156 423 120 207 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,678 15,531 3,323 12,102 -------------------------------------------------------------- May 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 92,203 293,697 Ingots And Steel For Castings 2,318 4,318 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,986 31,436 Wire Rods 1,813 5,149 Structural Shapes Heavy 281 962 Plates Cut Lengths 4,612 16,929 Plates In Coils 3,831 10,284 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,953 9,254 Bars - Light Shaped 937 2,683 Bars - Cold Finished 6,823 25,882 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 12,834 63,772 Wire Drawn 3,984 17,815 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,390 2,316 Sheets Cold Rolled 36,879 90,320 Strip - Hot Rolled 120 207 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,442 12,370 -------------------------------------------------------------- June 2005 May 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 74,884 265,918 72,762 265,480 Ingots And Steel For Castings 809 2,034 524 1,475 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,750 32,003 13,092 38,084 Wire Rods 3,633 10,427 4,108 12,053 Structural Shapes Heavy 41 193 198 934 Plates Cut Lengths 3,360 12,903 2,301 10,651 Plates In Coils 4,237 12,016 1,824 6,320 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,888 8,382 1,969 7,857 Bars - Light Shaped 386 1,342 468 1,583 Bars - Cold Finished 8,769 32,462 8,951 33,946 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 10,592 57,982 10,941 63,851 Wire Drawn 3,494 17,141 3,990 18,075 Sheets Hot Rolled 841 2,084 711 1,630 Sheets Cold Rolled 22,398 62,413 20,392 56,053 Strip - Hot Rolled 211 608 290 1,025 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,474 13,928 3,003 11,942 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 June 2006 (CB-06-113)