March 1, 2007 — The U.S. imported a total of 2,685,000 net tons of steel in January 2007, according to the latest report from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The total reflects an 11% decrease compared to December 2006’s final data

The AISI report, which is based on preliminary Census Bureau data, shows that the total included 2,153,000 net tons of finished steel, a 13% decrease compared to December 2006’s final data.

Key products with large increases in January compared to the month before included:

• Reinforcing bars, +70%
• Structural pipe & tubing, +22%
• Plates in coils, +18%
• Hot rolled bars, +11%

For January, the largest volume of finished steel imports from an individual country was again China, with 510,000 net tons, a 48% increase over January 2006 and a 9% increase over December 2006. Other significant import volumes include Brazil at 127,000 net tons, Korea at 114,000 net tons, and Japan at 110,000 net tons.

"We continue to have concerns about the impact that government subsidies are having on the domestic market, a direct violation of trade rules established by the World Trade Organization (WTO),” said AISI Chairman Louis L. Schorsch, CEO of Arcelor Mittal Flat Products Americas. "We are seeking effective enforcement of U.S. trade laws, preserving rules-based trade and allowing free market forces to drive the global marketplace in the steel industry."

“There is a role for imports in the U.S. market — but there is no role for dumped or subsidized trade. We will continue to monitor inappropriate market interventions by offshore governments, government support and over-production of steel in Asia, non-market-based steel capacity expansions offshore and steel import flows,” AISI President and CEO Andrew G. Sharkey III, said.