U.S. Census Bureau News U.S. Department of Commerce · Washington, DC 20230 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 For information contact: CB10-35, FT-900A (02-10) Nick Orsini (301) 763-6959 Maria Iseman (301) 763-2311 Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products February 2010 The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary February steel imports were $1.3 billion (1.4 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary January totals of $1.4 billion (1.5 million metric tons). The February change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected decreases primarily in oil country goods; hot rolled bars; and blooms, billets, and slabs. Monthly increases occurred primarily with wire rods, reinforcing bars, and hot rolled sheets. Monthly decreases occurred primarily with Korea, Canada, and Russia. Increases occurred primarily with Mexico, Japan, and Turkey. The year to date final statistics through January 2010 showed steel imports of 1.5 million metric tons compared to 2.1 million metric tons through January 2009. The largest commodity decrease was in oil country goods and the largest commodity increase was in blooms, billets, and slabs. The largest country decrease was with China and the largest country increase 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 April 27, 2010.