This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released 
before 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 28, 1999

  CB-99-19 Press Copy 
  FT-900A (98-12)

For information contact:  
Haydn R. Mearkle  (301) 457-2246 
Richard M. Preuss (301) 457-2311


  Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Product December 1998

  The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, announced 
today that preliminary December steel imports were $1.1 billion (2.5 million 
metric tons).  This was a decrease of $0.3 billion (1.1 million  metric 
tons) from the preliminary November totals of $1.4 billion (3.6 million 
metric tons).

   The November to December change in steel imports, based on metric 
tonnage, reflected decreases primarily in sheets hot rolled, plates in 
coils, and blooms, billets and slabs.  The monthly change in steel imports 
reflected decreases primarily with Russia, Japan, and Korea.

   The year-to-date final statistics through November of 1998 show steel 
imports of 35.1 million  metric tons, an increase of 8.7  million metric 
tons over the 26.4 million metric tons through November of 1997.  The 
largest commodity increases were in sheets hot rolled, structural shapes 
heavy, and plates in coil.  The largest country increases were with Japan, 
Russia, and Korea.  

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 statisitics.  For further details 
visit the Foreign Trade Division web site at 
www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/.  On the web site you can access 
product by country and country by product tables.

The next release is February 25, 1999


SOURCE: Report FT900A (CB-99-19), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, DECEMBER 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.