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 July 2006 June 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 93,655 338,168 85,065 286,948 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,696 4,631 1,864 3,910 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,826 31,891 10,101 30,709 Wire Rods 2,321 6,326 1,749 4,855 Structural Shapes Heavy 165 634 91 249 Plates Cut Lengths 5,602 22,994 5,316 19,312 Plates In Coils 3,056 9,368 4,005 10,860 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,038 9,893 1,658 7,656 Bars - Light Shaped 995 3,323 716 2,038 Bars - Cold Finished 7,906 32,068 7,705 29,427 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 11,853 72,111 10,332 57,932 Wire Drawn 3,637 16,812 3,598 16,141 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,581 2,459 1,683 2,535 Sheets Cold Rolled 38,919 112,396 32,412 85,367 Strip - Hot Rolled 159 448 156 423 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,900 12,816 3,678 15,531 -------------------------------------------------------------- June 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 88,145 297,070 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,714 3,942 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,259 31,101 Wire Rods 1,766 4,875 Structural Shapes Heavy 108 329 Plates Cut Lengths 5,337 19,375 Plates In Coils 5,696 14,644 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,804 8,795 Bars - Light Shaped 736 2,083 Bars - Cold Finished 7,882 30,270 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 10,752 59,875 Wire Drawn 3,684 16,484 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,683 2,535 Sheets Cold Rolled 32,796 86,476 Strip - Hot Rolled 163 444 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,765 15,841 -------------------------------------------------------------- July 2005 June 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 71,317 254,377 74,884 265,918 Ingots And Steel For Castings 971 2,104 809 2,034 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,175 29,852 10,750 32,003 Wire Rods 2,317 6,383 3,633 10,427 Structural Shapes Heavy 184 821 41 193 Plates Cut Lengths 2,979 13,688 3,360 12,903 Plates In Coils 5,225 16,890 4,237 12,016 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,165 8,625 1,888 8,382 Bars - Light Shaped 356 1,239 386 1,342 Bars - Cold Finished 8,944 34,227 8,769 32,462 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 9,115 50,178 10,592 57,982 Wire Drawn 3,287 14,048 3,494 17,141 Sheets Hot Rolled 939 1,348 841 2,084 Sheets Cold Rolled 21,214 59,406 22,398 62,413 Strip - Hot Rolled 96 215 211 608 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,350 15,350 3,474 13,928 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 July 2006 (CB-06-130)