U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce ( Washington, DC 20230 )


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2007

CB07-14, FT-900A (12-06)

For information contact:

Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959

Vanessa Ware
(301) 763-2311

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
December 2006

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary December steel imports 
were $2.4 billion (2.7 million metric tons).  This was a decrease of $0.3 
billion (0.4 million metric tons) from the preliminary November totals of $2.7 
billion (3.1 million metric tons).    
	
The November to December change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs and reinforcing 
bars. Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with 
Mexico and Turkey.  An increase occurred primarily with Taiwan and Ukraine. 


The year to date final statistics through November 2006 showed steel imports 
of 38.3 million metric tons compared to 26.5 million metric tons through 
November 2005. The largest commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and 
slabs; hot rolled sheets; and cold rolled sheets.  The largest country 
increases were with China, Russia, Taiwan, and Turkey.  The largest country 
decreases were with Mexico and Venezuela.  

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 February 27, 2007.

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
December 2006 (CB-07-14)