This release contains sensitive economic data not to be 
released before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 20, 1999

  CB-99-90       Press Copy 
  FT-900A (99-04)

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


   Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products April 1999

     The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, 
announced today that preliminary April steel imports were $0.9 billion 
(2.2 million metric tons).  This was an decrease of $0.1 billion (0.3 
metric tons) from the preliminary March totals of $1.0 billion
(2.5 million metric tons).

     The March to April change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs; plates cut to 
length; and structural shapes heavy. Monthly changes in steel imports 
reflected decreases primarily with Korea, Brazil, and Japan.

     The year-to-date final statistics through March of 1999 show steel 
imports of 7.1 million metric tons, an increase of 0.2 million metric
tons over the 6.9 million metric tons through March of 1998.  The largest 
commodity increases were in blooms, billets, and slabs; cold rolled
sheets; and reinforcing bars.  The largest country increases were with 
Korea, Brazil, and Mexico.                                                     
               
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/foreign-trade/www/.  On the web site you can access 
product by country and country by product tables.

The next release is June 24, 1999