This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released 
before 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 1999

  CB-99-120 Press Copy 
  FT-900A (99-05)

For information contact:
Haydn Mearkle    (301) 457-2246
Nick Orsini      (301) 457-2311 

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


     The Bureau of the Census, through the Department of Commerce, 
announced today that preliminary May steel imports were $1.1 billion
(3.0 million metric tons).  This was an increase of $0.2 billion 
(0.8 million metric tons) from the preliminary April totals of 
$0.9 billion (2.2 million metric tons).

     The April to May change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, 
reflected increases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs; cold rolled 
sheets; and heavy structural shapes.  Monthly changes in steel imports 
reflected increases primarily with Brazil, Mexico, and Russia.

     The year-to-date final statistics through April of 1999 showed 
steel imports of 9.4 million metric tons, an decrease of 0.5 million
metric tons from the 9.9 million metric tons through April of 1998.  
The largest commodity decreases were in hot rolled sheets, plates in
coils, and oil country goods.  The largest country decreases were with 
Russia, Japan, and Ukraine.                                                    
               
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 July 22, 1999


SOURCE: Report FT900a (CB-99-120), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, May 1999 Preliminary Steel Report.  For more information, 
        contact Haydn R. Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini 
        (301-457-2311), Foreign Trade Division.