U.S. Census Bureau News

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009

For information contact:
CB09-63, FT-900A (03-09)
Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959

Maria Iseman
(301) 763-2311

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
March 2009
 
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary March steel imports were $1.8 billion 
(1.4 million metric tons).  This was unchanged from the preliminary February totals.    
	
	
The March change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected decreases primarily in blooms, 
billets, and slabs; and plates cut lengths. An increase occurred primarily in reinforcing bars. 
Monthly decreases occurred primarily with China, Mexico, and Russia.  An increase occurred primarily 
with Japan.
   

The year to date final statistics through February 2009 showed steel imports of 3.6 million metric
tons compared to 4.7 million metric tons through February 2008. The largest commodity decrease was 
in blooms, billets, and slabs. 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 May 27, 2009.