U.S. Census Bureau News
U.S. Department of Commerce • Washington, DC 20230
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10:00 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008
For information contact: Nick Orsini Maria Iseman
CB08-110, FT-900A (06-08)
(301) 763-6959 (301) 763-2311
Preliminary: U.S. Imports for Consumption of Steel Products June 2008
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary June steel imports were $3.0 billion (2.4 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary May totals of $2.7 billion (2.2 million metric tons). The May to June change in steel imports, based on metric tonnage, reflected increases primarily in blooms, billets, and slabs. Monthly changes in steel imports reflected increases primarily with Ukraine, Brazil, and China.
The year to date final statistics through May 2008 showed steel imports of 12.0 million metric tons compared to 13.4 million metric tons through May 2007. The largest commodity decreases were in reinforcing bars, wire rods, cold rolled sheets, and galvanized hot dipped sheets. The largest commodity increases were in line pipe greater than 16 inches in diameter and oil country goods. The largest country decreases were with China and Brazil. The largest country increase was with Canada.
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 August 26, 2008.