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 August 2006 July 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 99,740 361,067 93,655 338,168 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,631 4,278 1,696 4,631 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 9,031 35,023 10,826 31,891 Wire Rods 1,747 4,994 2,321 6,326 Structural Shapes Heavy 237 919 165 634 Plates Cut Lengths 6,196 29,793 5,602 22,994 Plates In Coils 4,292 13,804 3,056 9,368 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,406 11,437 2,038 9,893 Bars - Light Shaped 1,388 5,061 995 3,323 Bars - Cold Finished 7,157 30,423 7,906 32,068 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 12,005 68,945 11,853 72,111 Wire Drawn 3,803 18,027 3,637 16,812 Sheets Hot Rolled 5,894 6,972 1,581 2,459 Sheets Cold Rolled 39,652 114,940 38,919 112,396 Strip - Hot Rolled 477 1,530 159 448 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,823 14,922 2,900 12,816 -------------------------------------------------------------- July 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 94,719 340,864 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,678 4,579 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,844 31,943 Wire Rods 2,321 6,326 Structural Shapes Heavy 165 634 Plates Cut Lengths 5,602 22,994 Plates In Coils 3,712 11,084 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,155 10,078 Bars - Light Shaped 995 3,323 Bars - Cold Finished 7,924 32,124 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 11,894 72,253 Wire Drawn 3,638 16,817 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,585 2,477 Sheets Cold Rolled 39,147 112,969 Strip - Hot Rolled 159 448 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,900 12,816 -------------------------------------------------------------- August 2005 July 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 74,460 267,393 71,317 254,377 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,100 2,624 971 2,104 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 7,588 23,351 10,175 29,852 Wire Rods 3,196 9,291 2,317 6,383 Structural Shapes Heavy 157 612 184 821 Plates Cut Lengths 3,673 14,896 2,979 13,688 Plates In Coils 3,977 13,084 5,225 16,890 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,501 6,049 2,165 8,625 Bars - Light Shaped 258 970 356 1,239 Bars - Cold Finished 7,853 30,251 8,944 34,227 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 11,694 67,281 9,115 50,178 Wire Drawn 3,352 14,948 3,287 14,048 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,989 3,413 939 1,348 Sheets Cold Rolled 24,228 64,802 21,214 59,406 Strip - Hot Rolled 299 883 96 215 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,596 14,938 3,350 15,350 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 August 2006 (CB-06-144)