U.S. Census Bureau News U.S. Department of Commerce Washington, DC 20230 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008 For information contact: CB08-62, FT-900A (03-08) Nick Orsini (301) 763-6959 Maria Iseman (301) 763-2311 Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products March 2008 The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary March steel imports were $2.5 billion (2.3 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary February totals of $2.3 billion (2.2 million metric tons). The February to March change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected increases primarily in oil country goods and plates cut lengths. A decrease occurred primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs. Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with Poland, Japan, and Canada. Decreases occurred with Australia and Brazil. The year to date final statistics through February 2008 showed steel imports of 4.7 million metric tons compared to 5.1 million metric tons through February 2007. The largest commodity decreases were in wire rods and cold rolled sheets. The largest commodity increase was in line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter. The largest country decreases were with China and Brazil. The largest country increase was with Canada. 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 May 28, 2008.