US steel imports increase 18 percent in October 2005
The US Commerce Department reported that October 2005 steel imports increased 18 percent from September 2005.
The change was due in large to increases in blooms, billets, and slabs and hot rolled sheets.
Finished steel products increased 9 percent while imports of semi-finished products rose 53 percent.
Year-on-year imports of steel mill products were down 23 percent; finished steel imports, 28 percent; and semi-finished decreased 5 percent.
The following is a comparison of select steel product imports for October 2005:
Product Change
Month on Month Year on Year
Hot-rolled 19 percent -38 percent
Cold-rolled no change -53 percent
Wire rod -1 percent -44 percent
Rebar -58 percent -54 percent
Hot-rolled bar 13 percent -18 percent
Standard pipe -1 percent -2 percent
Semi-finished 53 percent -5 percent