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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007

CB07-89, FT-900A (05-07)

For information contact:
Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959
Vanessa Ware
(301) 763-2311


Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
May 2007


     
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary May steel imports 
were $2.8 billion (2.9 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary April 
totals of $2.4 billion (2.5 million metric tons).    
	
The April to May change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected 
increases primarily in wire rods and reinforcing bars. Decreases occurred 
primarily in blooms, billets and slabs.  Monthly changes in steel imports 
reflected increases primarily with China and Australia.  A decrease occurred 
primarily with Mexico.  
    
The year to date final statistics through April 2007 showed steel imports of 
10.4 million metric tons compared to 13.6 million metric tons through April 
2006.  The largest commodity decreases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; hot 
rolled sheets; and wire rods.  The largest country decreases were with Turkey 
and Russia.  The largest country increases were with Canada and China.   


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 July 24, 2007.