U.S. Census Bureau News

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

For information contact:
CB09-46, FT-900A (02-09)
Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959


Maria Iseman
(301) 763-2311

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
February 2009
 
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary February steel imports were $1.8 billion 
(1.4 million metric tons).  This was a decrease of $1.1 billion (0.7 million metric tons) from the 
preliminary January totals of $2.9 billion (2.1 million metric tons).    
	
The February change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected decreases primarily in oil 
country goods.  Monthly changes in steel imports reflected decreases primarily with China, Russia, 
and Korea. 
 
    
The year to date final statistics through January 2009 showed steel imports of 2.1 million 
metric tons compared to 2.4 million metric tons through January 2008. The largest commodity 
decreases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; and hot rolled sheets. The largest commodity increase 
was in oil country goods.  The largest country decrease was with Canada.  The largest country 
increases were with Russia 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/trade. 
On the web site you can access product by country and country by product tables.

The next release is April 28, 2009.