U.S. Census Bureau News

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

For information contact:
CB09-78, FT-900A (04-09)
Nick Orsini
(301) 763-6959

Maria Iseman
(301) 763-2311

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
April 2009
 
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary April steel imports were $1.3 billion 
(1.1 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary March totals of $1.8 billion (1.4 million metric tons).     
	
The March change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected a decrease primarily in oil country goods. 
Monthly decreases occurred primarily with China, Canada, and Korea.  

The year to date final statistics through March 2009 showed steel imports of 5.0 million metric tons compared
 to 7.0 million metric tons through March 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.  

          	
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 June 23, 2009.