U.S. Census Bureau News U.S. Department of Commerce • Washington, DC 20230 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 For information contact: CB11-162, FT-900A (08-11) Matthew Przybocki (301) 763-3148 Maria Iseman (301) 763-2311 Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products August 2011 The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary August steel imports were $2.7 billion (2.2 million metric tons). This was a decrease of $0.2 billion (0.1 million metric tons) from the preliminary July totals of $2.9 billion (2.3 million metric tons). The August change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected a decrease primarily in hot rolled sheets; an increase occurred in blooms, billets, and slabs. Decreases occurred primarily with Korea, Australia, and Russia; an increase occurred primarily with Brazil. The year to date final statistics through July 2011 showed steel imports of 15.7 million metric tons compared with 12.8 million metric tons through July 2010. The largest commodity increase occurred primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs. The largest country increases occurred primarily with Brazil. 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 October 25, 2011.