U.S. Census Bureau News

U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008

For information contact:
CB08-48, FT-900A (02-08)

Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959

Maria Iseman
(301) 763-2311







Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
February 2008



     
    The U.S. Census Bureau announced today 
that preliminary February steel imports were 
$2.3 billion (2.2 million metric tons) 
compared to the preliminary January totals of 
$2.4 billion (2.4 million metric tons).    
	
     The January to February change in steel 
imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected a 
decrease primarily in oil country goods.  
Monthly changes in steel imports reflected 
decreases primarily with Korea, Japan, and 
Canada.  
   
 
    
     
     The year to date final statistics through 
January 2008 showed steel imports of 2.4 
million metric tons compared to 2.7 million 
metric tons through January 2007.  The largest 
commodity decreases were in wire rods; 
blooms, billets, and slabs; and cold rolled 
sheets.  The largest country decrease was with 
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 April 22, 2008.