US steel imports increase 9% in April 2005
The US Commerce Department reports that April 2005 steel imports increased 9% from March 2005. The rise was due in large part to increases in wire rods; blooms, billets, and slabs; and oil country goods. Finished steel products increased 5% while imports of semi-finished products jumped 26%. Year on year imports of steel mill products rose 21%; finished steel imports, 14%; and semi-finished, 58%. The following is a comparison of select steel product imports for April 2005:
Product Change
Month on Month Year on Year
Hot-rolled -12% 27%
Cold-rolled -4% 85%
Wire rod 15% -31%
Rebar -17% -48%
Hot-rolled bar 15% <1%
Standard pipe 24% 2%
Semi-finished 26% 58%