U.S. Census Bureau News			
				  		
			              U.S. Department of Commerce · Washington, DC 20230			
						
			                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			
			                   10:00 A.M. EDT THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013
			
						
For information contact:				CB13-91, FT-900A (04-13)		
Matthew Przybocki             		                (301) 763-3148				
Maria Iseman                    		        (301) 763-2311				
 						
                                  Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products						
		                                          April 2013				
						
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary April steel imports were $2.5 billion (2.4 million metric tons) compared to 
the preliminary March totals of $2.3 billion (2.2 million metric tons). The April change in steel imports based on metric tonnage 
reflected increases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs; and a decrease primarily in reinforcing bars.  Increases occurred 
primarily with Brazil and Japan.  A decrease occurred primarily with Turkey. The year to date final statistics through March 2013 
showed steel imports of 7.0 million metric tons compared with 7.8 million metric tons through March 2012. The largest commodity 
decreases occurred primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs. Increases occurred primarily in hot dipped galvanized sheets and strips.  
The largest country  decrease occurred primarily with Russia.  An increase occurred primarily with China.		
						
						
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 ForeignTrade Division web site at www.census.gov/trade. On the website, you can 
access product by country and country by product tables."						
						
The next release is June 25, 2013.