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 January 2007 December 2006 Preliminary Preliminary Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 85,190 389,980 89,593 393,218 Ingots And Steel For Castings 627 2,579 1,799 5,726 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 7,863 35,616 10,786 42,747 Wire Rods 2,481 10,146 2,897 11,393 Structural Shapes Heavy 337 1,691 387 1,610 Plates Cut Lengths 6,131 30,749 6,513 29,418 Plates In Coils 4,385 19,785 4,535 21,460 Bars - Hot Rolled 2,924 14,374 3,146 13,765 Bars - Light Shaped 598 3,851 2,152 4,237 Bars - Cold Finished 7,225 35,033 6,971 34,938 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 14,534 89,712 13,945 88,507 Wire Drawn 4,110 21,208 3,928 21,148 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,437 3,472 1,215 2,292 Sheets Cold Rolled 28,831 102,333 28,029 99,621 Strip - Hot Rolled 842 3,680 431 2,242 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,864 15,752 2,860 14,113 -------------------------------------------------------------- December 2006 Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 89,301 396,117 Ingots And Steel For Castings 1,799 5,726 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 10,849 43,179 Wire Rods 2,897 11,393 Structural Shapes Heavy 390 1,643 Plates Cut Lengths 6,626 29,887 Plates In Coils 4,950 23,152 Bars - Hot Rolled 3,530 14,395 Bars - Light Shaped 731 3,223 Bars - Cold Finished 6,971 34,938 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 13,976 88,728 Wire Drawn 3,928 21,148 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,231 2,342 Sheets Cold Rolled 28,131 100,010 Strip - Hot Rolled 431 2,242 Strip - Cold Rolled 2,860 14,113 -------------------------------------------------------------- January 2006 December 2005 Final Final Commodity Grouping Quantity Value Quantity Value Total Selected Commodities 72,732 243,204 69,077 226,618 Ingots And Steel For Castings 841 3,637 1,710 5,326 Blooms, Billets And Slabs 6,994 18,370 9,847 26,291 Wire Rods 2,882 7,736 2,186 6,477 Structural Shapes Heavy 171 612 102 433 Plates Cut Lengths 3,411 12,996 3,771 10,802 Plates In Coils 2,044 5,397 2,116 5,934 Bars - Hot Rolled 1,705 7,406 1,587 6,925 Bars - Light Shaped 501 1,467 412 1,174 Bars - Cold Finished 5,937 23,050 6,532 25,981 Stainless Pipe & Tubing 11,236 62,599 9,138 51,888 Wire Drawn 3,865 16,614 2,972 13,120 Sheets Hot Rolled 1,902 2,929 1,456 2,770 Sheets Cold Rolled 27,591 66,420 24,064 57,320 Strip - Hot Rolled 368 813 382 920 Strip - Cold Rolled 3,284 13,159 2,802 11,258 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 January 2007 (CB-07-28)