NEWS RELEASES - 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
April 13, 2000
Contact: |
Meg Mullery |
202.342.8439 |
JANUARY
SPECIALTY STEEL IMPORTS REMAIN
NEAR 4th QUARTER 1999 RECORD HIGHS
Import Levels By Product Line Are Mixed
(Washington, DC) - Imports of all specialty steel in January 2000 were 77,969 tons, up 12% over 1999's average monthly imports of 69,534 tons, and only 5% below the record high of 81,617 tons per month average set in the fourth quarter of 1999, according to data released today by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA).
Imports in January of stainless steel plate, rod, and bar increased 21%, 23%, and 6%, respectively, from their high 1999 fourth quarter monthly averages. For the same periods, stainless steel plate imports were 7,094 vs. 5,865 tons; stainless steel rod imports were 8,023 vs. 6,535 tons; and stainless steel bar imports were 10,030 vs. 9,435 tons. January stainless steel bar imports surpassed monthly import levels for all of 1998 and 1999; stainless steel rod imports exceeded monthly tonnage levels for all of 1999.
Import penetration in January for stainless steel plate was 31%, up 5% compared to the fourth quarter monthly average, while import penetration for stainless steel bar remained at 45%. Stainless steel rod imports in January captured 78% of the U.S. market, up 5% over the fourth quarter monthly average.
Imports of stainless steel sheet/strip and wire and electrical steel were down 11%, 1%, and 23%, respectively, in January 2000 compared to 1999 fourth quarter monthly averages. Import penetration in January for the three products declined as follows: stainless steel sheet/strip, down 2%; wire, down 5%; and electrical steel, down 7%.
H. L. Kephart, who serves as SSINA Chairman of the Board and is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of G.O. Carlson, Inc., a specialty steel producer in Thorndale, PA, stated, "While overall imports of specialty steel declined to 77,969 tons in January 2000, this high level remains in near-record territory following last November's 1999 record of 82,304 tons."
Kephart noted that the data on individual product lines tell different stories. He explained, "Sheet/strip imports for January were 35,674 tons compared to the fourth quarter 1999 monthly average of almost 40,000 tons. This decrease is in response to the successful trade cases that concluded last year with the assessment of antidumping and countervailing duties ranging up to 59% on imports of stainless steel sheet/strip in coils from eight countries. More troubling is the data on stainless steel plate imports, which increased to 7,094 tons in January from the 1999 fourth quarter average of 5,865. Stainless steel plate in coils from six countries were assessed antidumping and countervailing duties ranging up to 68% as a result of another successful trade case that culminated last year. As reported previously, the industry is closely monitoring imports from the six countries of stainless steel plate cut-from-coils, a subset product not covered by the trade case, to ensure that intentional circumvention of the unfair trade laws is not occurring."
Kephart also noted that the industry remains concerned about the very high levels of stainless steel bar and rod imports and is closely monitoring these imports as well.
SSINA is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing virtually all continental specialty steel producers. Specialty steels are high technology, high-value stainless and other specialty alloy products. While shipments of specialty steel account for only 2% of all steel shipped in North America, annual revenues of approximately $8 billion account for over 14% of the total value of all steel shipped.
David A. Hartquist, an international trade attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, PLLC, serves as lead counsel to the SSINA.
Note to Editors: See attached table for more information on U.S. imports, consumption, and market penetration data; and bar chart reflecting U.S. imports of specialty steel between November 1998 and January 2000.
U.S. Imports,
Consumption and Market Penetration Data
through 1999 and January 2000 For Specialty Steel Product Lines
2000/1999
(Short Tons)
|
|
MONTHLY AVERAGE |
|||||
|
|
% Change |
|
% Change |
|
Current |
|
|
1st Qtr. '00 |
4th Qtr. '99 |
1st Qtr. '00 vs. |
1st Qtr. '99 |
1st Qtr. '00 vs. |
Month's |
|
|
(Jan. '00) |
|
4th Qtr. '99 |
(Jan. '00) |
1st Qtr. '99 |
Date |
|
IMPORTS |
|||||||
Stainless Sheet/Strip |
35,674 |
39,947 |
-10.7% |
27,504 |
29.7% |
35,674 |
|
Stainless Plate |
7,094 |
5,865 |
21.0% |
2,671 |
165.6% |
7,094 |
|
Stainless Bar |
10,030 |
9,435 |
6.3% |
5,684 |
76.5% |
10,030 |
|
Stainless Rod |
8,023 |
6,535 |
22.8% |
4,669 |
71.8% |
8,023 |
|
Stainless Wire** |
2,295 |
2,329 |
-1.4% |
1,661 |
38.2% |
2,295 |
|
Total Stainless*** |
63,116 |
64,110 |
-1.6% |
42,189 |
49.6% |
63,116 |
|
Tool Steel |
5,992 |
6,003 |
-0.2% |
4,037 |
48.4% |
5,992 |
|
Electrical Steel |
8,861 |
11,504 |
-23.0% |
9,276 |
-4.5% |
8,861 |
|
Total Specialty Steel*** |
77,969 |
81,617 |
-4.5% |
55,502 |
40.5% |
77,969 |
|
CONSUMPTION |
|||||||
Stainless Sheet/Strip |
166,025 |
169,457 |
-2.0% |
132,371 |
25.4% |
166,025 |
|
Stainless Plate |
22,703 |
22,410 |
1.3% |
15,323 |
48.2% |
22,703 |
|
Stainless Bar |
22,319 |
21,084 |
5.9% |
15,645 |
42.7% |
22,319 |
|
Stainless Rod |
10,308 |
8,974 |
14.9% |
6,586 |
56.5% |
10,308 |
|
Stainless Wire** |
6,565 |
5,798 |
13.2% |
6,218 |
5.6% |
6,565 |
|
Total Stainless*** |
227,919 |
227,724 |
0.1% |
176,143 |
29.4% |
227,919 |
|
Tool Steel |
9,380 |
9,258 |
1.3% |
7,185 |
30.5% |
9,380 |
|
Electrical Steel |
49,633 |
46,046 |
7.8% |
41,683 |
19.1% |
49,633 |
|
Total Specialty Steel*** |
286,932 |
283,028 |
1.4% |
225,011 |
27.5% |
286,932 |
|
IMPORT PENETRATION |
|||||||
Stainless Sheet/Strip |
21.5% |
23.6% |
-2.1% |
20.8% |
0.7% |
21.5% |
|
Stainless Plate |
31.2% |
26.2% |
5.1% |
17.4% |
13.8% |
31.2% |
|
Stainless Bar |
44.9% |
44.7% |
0.2% |
36.3% |
8.6% |
44.9% |
|
Stainless Rod |
77.8% |
72.8% |
5.0% |
70.9% |
6.9% |
77.8% |
|
Stainless Wire** |
35.0% |
40.2% |
-5.2% |
26.7% |
8.3% |
35.0% |
|
Total Stainless*** |
27.7% |
28.2% |
-0.5% |
24.0% |
3.7% |
27.7% |
|
Tool Steel |
63.9% |
64.8% |
-1.0% |
56.2% |
7.7% |
63.9% |
|
Electrical Steel |
17.9% |
25.0% |
-7.1% |
22.3% |
-4.4% |
17.9% |
|
Total Specialty Steel*** |
27.2% |
28.8% |
-1.7% |
24.7% |
2.5% |
27.2% |
|
NOTE: |
Changes in import penetration are percentage point changes. |
* |
Imports adjusted to exclude hot bands imported for re-rolling and reported under shippments. |
** |
Shipments estimated and subject to revision when actual data is received. |
*** |
Shipment and consumption data for these categories may be overstated due to inclusion of shipments from wire redrawers which are aready included in shipments/imports of rod; consequently import penetration may be slightly understated. |
