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 December 2006 November 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 89,593 393,218 94,174 407,736 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,799 5,726 489 1,700 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,786 42,747 7,282 32,340 Wire Rods 2,897 11,393 2,737 10,165 Structural Shapes Heavy 387 1,610 333 1,601 Plates Cut Lengths 6,513 29,418 7,046 34,492 Plates In Coils 4,535 21,460 6,612 25,821 Bars - Hot Rolled 3,146 13,765 2,922 14,004 Bars - Light Shaped 2,152 4,237 587 2,551 Bars - Cold Finished 6,971 34,938 8,408 40,237 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 13,945 88,507 15,313 90,540 Wire Drawn 3,928 21,148 3,628 19,691 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,215 2,292 3,155 8,448 Sheets Cold Rolled 28,029 99,621 32,083 108,543 Strip - Hot Rolled 431 2,242 403 1,769 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,860 14,113 3,175 15,834 -------------------------------------------------------------- November 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 94,272 408,069 Ingots And Steel For Castings 489 1,700 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 7,282 32,340 Wire Rods 2,737 10,165 Structural Shapes Heavy 333 1,601 Plates Cut Lengths 7,046 34,492 Plates In Coils 6,633 25,945 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,917 13,865 Bars - Light Shaped 587 2,551 Bars - Cold Finished 8,418 40,257 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 15,329 90,593 Wire Drawn 3,628 19,691 Sheets Hot Rolled 3,174 8,579 Sheets Cold Rolled 32,119 108,686 Strip - Hot Rolled 403 1,769 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,175 15,834 -------------------------------------------------------------- December 2005 November 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 69,077 226,618 67,731 233,183 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,710 5,326 1,789 5,339 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 9,847 26,291 6,028 17,277 Wire Rods 2,186 6,477 2,217 6,505 Structural Shapes Heavy 102 433 91 325 Plates Cut Lengths 3,771 10,802 4,321 14,213 Plates In Coils 2,116 5,934 1,702 4,917 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,587 6,925 1,718 7,742 Bars - Light Shaped 412 1,174 537 1,556 Bars - Cold Finished 6,532 25,981 7,572 30,434 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 9,138 51,888 10,555 58,265 Wire Drawn 2,972 13,120 3,246 13,878 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,456 2,770 2,062 3,892 Sheets Cold Rolled 24,064 57,320 21,902 54,484 Strip - Hot Rolled 382 920 720 2,145 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,802 11,258 3,271 12,212 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 Janet Freas (301-763-2311), Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau. SOURCE: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products: Preliminary December 2006 (CB-07-14)