U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2006
                                
For information contact:
Nick Orsini      (301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware	 (301) 763-2311

CB06-172, FT-900A (10-06)
                                 
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
October 2006

The U.S. Census Bureau, announced today that preliminary October steel imports 
were $2.9 billion (3.5 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary 
September totals of $2.6 billion (3.4 million metric tons).    

The September to October change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected increases primarily in plates in coils and line pipe not specified. 
A decrease occurred primarily in reinforcing bars.  Monthly changes in steel 
imports reflected increases primarily with Ukraine and Russia. A decrease 
occurred primarily with Turkey.  

The year to date final statistics through September 2006 showed steel imports 
of 31.7  million metric tons compared to 21.8 million metric tons through 
September 2005.  The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and 
slabs; hot rolled sheets; cold rolled sheets; and reinforcing bars.  The 
largest country increases were with China and Russia.  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 December 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   
October 2006 (CB-06-172)