U.S. Census Bureau News

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010

For information contact:	CB10-56, FT-900A (03-10)
Nick Orsini	(301) 763-6959		
Maria Iseman	(301) 763-2311		
	
	

Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products
March 2010
 

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary March steel imports were $1.8 billion (1.8 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary February totals of $1.3 billion (1.4 million metric tons).     
	
The March change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected increases primarily in oil country goods; galvanized hot dipped sheets and strip; and blooms, billets, and slabs.  Monthly increases occurred primarily with Canada.
   
The year to date final statistics through February 2010 showed steel imports of 2.9 million metric tons compared to 3.6 million metric tons through February 2009. The largest commodity decrease was in oil country goods and the largest commodity increase was 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 May 25, 2010.