U.S. Census Bureau News

U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009

For information contact:
CB09-14, FT-900A (12-08)

Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959

Maria Iseman
(301) 763-2311

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

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary December steel imports were $2.7 billion (1.8 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary November totals of $3.1 billion (2.0 million metric tons).    
	
The December change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected decreases primarily in oil country goods and plates cut lengths.  An increase occurred primarily with blooms, billets, and slabs.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with Korea and China. An increase occurred primarily with Brazil.     
   
The year to date final statistics through November 2008 showed steel imports of 27.1 million metric tons compared to 28.3 million metric tons through November 2007. The largest commodity decreases were in reinforcing bars; blooms, billets, and slabs; wire rods; cold rolled sheets; standard pipe; and galvanized hot dipped sheets and strip.  The largest commodity increase was in oil country goods.  The largest country decrease was with Brazil.  The largest country increases were with Canada and India. 

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 24, 2009.