The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) released data on imports, domestic consumption and import penetration covering year-to-date October 2003.

The statistics reflect that imports of total specialty steel (stainless steel, alloy tool steel, electrical steel) have decreased 2% to 552,516 tons. Similarly, U.S. consumption has decreased 2% to 2,172,705 tons. Ten-month import penetration was unchanged at 25%.

Imports of total stainless steel, the largest product line, have dropped 7% to 413,721 tons, while consumption has declined 2% to 1,783,953 tons. The industry lost 23% U.S. market share to imports, down one percentage point.

By product line, stainless sheet/strip imports have increased 2% to 253,990 tons. U.S. consumption has fallen 2% to 1,315,948 tons. Import penetration remained essentially the same at 19%.

Imports of stainless steel plate have declined 15% to 41,584 tons. U.S. demand has risen 10% to 237,012 tons. Import penetration dropped five percentage points from last year to 18%.

Imports of stainless steel rod and stainless steel bar have decreased significantly. Both products were covered by the recently terminated import relief program that President Bush instituted in March 2002. While imports of stainless steel rod have dropped 38% to 30,746 tons, U.S. consumption has decreased 26% to 55,686 tons. Imports still control 55% U.S. market share, down eleven percentage points from YTD October 2002. Stainless steel bar imports have declined 14% to 59,208 tons. U.S. consumption has decreased 7% to 154,876 tons, while ten-month import penetration was down three percentage points to 38%.

Imports have increased for stainless steel wire, alloy tool steel and electrical steel. (See table for additional import, consumption and market penetration data for these and other product lines covering YTD October 2003/2002/2001.)

SSINA is a Washington, DC-based trade association representing virtually all continental specialty steel producers. Specialty steels are high technology, high value stainless and other specialty alloy products. David A. Hartquist, an international trade attorney with the Washington, D.C., law firm Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC, serves as lead counsel to SSINA.