U.S. Census Bureau News

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



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EST TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010
CB10-11, FT-900A (12-09)

For information contact:	
Nick Orsini	(301) 763-6959		
Janet Freas	(301) 763-2311		
	
	

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
December 2009

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary December 
steel imports were $1.3 billion (1.3 million metric tons) compared 
to the preliminary November totals of $1.2 billion (1.1 million 
metric tons).     
	
The December change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected increases primarily in wire rods and hot rolled bars.  
Decreases occurred primarily with blooms, billets, and slabs; and 
hot rolled sheets.   Monthly increases occurred primarily with 
Mexico and Canada.  Decreases occurred primarily with Russia and 
Netherlands.
   
The year to date final statistics through November 2009 showed 
steel imports of 13.4 million metric tons compared to 27.1 million 
metric tons through November 2008. The largest commodity decreases 
were in blooms, billets, and slabs; and oil country goods.  The 
largest country decreases were with Canada 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 February 23, 2010.