February 26, 2002

Newly released preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of January 2002 show that steel imports increased 14 percent from December 2001 levels.

Total Steel Mill Products

The preliminary data released today show that overall steel imports in January 2002 increased 14 percent compared to December 2001. The increase in January’s total amount of steel imports was due primarily to a increase in imports of semi-finished steel, rebar, railroad accessories, and oil country goods. January 2002 imports of finished steel products increased 2 percent compared to December 2001, while imports of semi-finished steel rose 77 percent.

January 2002 imports of steel mill products were up 11 percent compared to January 2001. January 2002 imports of finished steel were up 0.18 percent compared to January 2001, while semi-finished steel products were up 64 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of hot-rolled steel increased 8 percent from their December 2001 levels but were down 34 percent compared to January 2001 levels. These products were the subject of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

January 2002 imports of cold-rolled steel decreased 31 percent compared to December 2001 levels and were down 3 percent compared to January 2001 levels. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

January 2002 imports of cut-to-length plate increased 11 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were up 52 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of corrosion-resistant steel increased 42 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports of these products were up 71 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of wire rod decreased 26 percent compared to December 2001 levels and were up 50 percent compared to January 2001 levels. These products are the subject of current antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

January 2002 imports of heavy structurals decreased 26 percent from their December 2001 level and were down 38 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

January 2002 imports of rebar rose 146 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports of these products were down 5 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of hot-rolled bar increased 8 percent compared to December 2001 and were up 26 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

January 2002 imports of standard pipe increased 26 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports of these products were up 19 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of OCTG increased 49 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports of these products were down 16 percent compared to January 2001.

January 2002 imports of semi-finished steel increased 77 percent compared to December 2001 and were up 64 percent compared to January 2001 levels. Imports of these products are used by U.S. steel companies to produce finished products.

Since May 2001 the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) expanded its early release of steel import data to include separate breakouts for carbon, alloy and stainless steel in each of the product categories. The following lists some of the highlights from these new breakouts:

Overall imports of carbon steel products in January 2002 increased 19 percent from their December 2001 levels and were up 9 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon hot-rolled steel in January 2002 increased 11 percent compared to December 2001 and were down 37 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of carbon cold-rolled steel in January 2002 decreased 44 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were down 12 percent compared to January 2001.

Overall imports of alloy steel products in January 2002 decreased 11 percent compared to December 2001 and were up 24 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

Tool Steel - Imports of tool steel in January 2002 increased 5 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were down 20 percent compared to January 2001.

Stainless Steel

Overall imports of stainless steel products in January 2002 increased 13 percent from their December 2001 level and were up 7 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless hot-rolled steel in January 2002 increased 93 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were up 154 percent compared to January 2001.

Stainless Cold-Rolled Steel - Imports of stainless cold-rolled steel in January 2002 increased 8 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were down 3 percent compared to January 2001.

Stainless Hot-Rolled Bars - Imports of stainless hot-rolled bars in January 2002 increased 111 percent compared to December 2001 and were up 28 percent compared to January 2001 levels.

Stainless Cold-Finished Bars - Imports of stainless cold-finished bars in January 2002 increased 51 percent compared to December 2001. January 2002 imports were up 7 percent compared to January 2001.

These figures are being provided on an expedited basis and will continue to be released on this schedule each month. The data released today are preliminary and are likely to change somewhat between now and the release of the final January statistics next month. February 2002 preliminary figures will be released on March 26, 2002.

Note: Census issued revisions to certain country totals within product categories for 1998 and the first six months of 1999. Only individual country totals within certain product categories were affected by these revisions; the overall totals for these product categories were not affected. These revisions have been incorporated into this fact sheet and the accompanying tables. Detailed reports containing the revisions to the data for 1998 and the period January to June 1999 are available on the Census Bureau web site.