US steel imports decrease 15% in November 2005
According to a report from the US Department of Commerce, overall steel imports decreased 15 percent in November 2005 compared to October 2005.
The change in Novembers total amount of steel imports was due primarily to decreases in blooms, billets, slabs, hot rolled sheets, and
wire rods.
The report shows that imports of finished steel products decreased 8 percent in November 2005 compared to October 2005, and imports of semi-finished steel were down 36 percent.
In November 2005, imports of steel mill products were down 31 percent compared to November 2004. Finished steel imports were down 29 percent from November 2004, while semi-finished steel products decreased 38 percent compared to November 2004.
The following is a comparison of select steel product imports for November 2005:
Product Change
Month on Month Year on Year
Hot-rolled -24% -52%
Cold-rolled -14% -47%
Wire rod -36% -46%
Rebar -65% +4%
Hot-rolled bar -8% -13%
Standard pipe -3% +3%
Semi-finished -36% -38%
December 2005 preliminary figures will be released on January 31, 2006.