|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2000
| Contact: |
Meg Mullery |
202.342.8439 |
SPECIALTY STEEL INDUSTRY
RELEASES LATEST IMPORT DATA
SSINA Chairman Testifies on Import Surge
Issue at Congressional Hearing
(Washington DC) -- Monthly statistical data
released today by the Specialty Steel Industry
of North America (SSINA) reveal that, while total
specialty steel imports in September were down
from the previous months' record level of imports,
imports in January through September 2000 increased
dramatically and captured a growing share of the
U.S. market compared to the same 1999 period.
The data, the latest available, reflect a 22% increase
in total specialty steel imports to 716,509 tons
for the nine-month period versus last year's 589,560
tons for the same period. Import penetration increased
3 percentage points to 28%.
Imports of stainless steel, the industry's largest
product line, increased 26% in YTD September 2000
compared to the same 1999 period with import penetration
at 28%, a 4-percentage point increase over last
year.
Speaking at a Congressional Steel Caucus field hearing
in Pittsburgh today, H.L. Kephart, SSINA Chairman
and President and Chief Executive Officer testified,
"This year, our industry and its workers have faced
record levels of imports for all product lines,
both in terms of volume and import penetration.
The latest statistical data released today reflect
that stainless bar imports increased 68% over last
year; stainless rod increased 42%; stainless wire
increased 34%; and stainless plate increased 32%.
Stainless bar imports captured 48% of the U.S. market,
a 10 percentage point increase over last year. Other
stainless steel product lines experienced comparable
erosion of domestic market share. We appreciate
the concern and response to this issue of many Members
of Congress from both sides of the aisle and look
forward to working with the new Congress and Administration
to devise a comprehensive remedy that will restrain
or reverse this surge of imported specialty steel."
Electrical steel imports for the nine-month period
increased 13% in 2000 vs. 1999 to 90,595 tons, reflecting
a 21% import penetration. While tool steel imports
increased only 1% over last year, these imports
captured 67% of the U.S. market, a 2-percentage
point increase over 1999.
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.
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 Scott, PLLC, serves as lead counsel to
SSINA.
Note to Editors: See attached tables
for more information on U.S. imports, consumption
and market penetration data; and bar chart reflecting
the 15-month trend of specialty steel imports
between July 1999 and September 2000.
U.S. Imports, Consumption and Market Penetration
Data*
through 1999 and Sepetember 2000
For Specialty Steel Product Lines
| |
MONTHLY
AVERAGE |
|
| |
3rd Qtr. '00
(Jul.-Sep.) |
2nd Qtr. '00
(Apr.-Jun.) |
% Change
3rd Qtr. '00 vs.
2nd Qtr. '00 |
3rd Qtr. '99
(Jul.-Sep.) |
% Change
3rd Qtr. '00 vs.
3rd Qtr. '99 |
Current
Month's
Data |
| IMPORTS |
| Stainless Sheet/Strip |
31,193 |
38,944 |
-19.9% |
31,212 |
-0.1% |
25,160 |
| Stainless Plate |
4,656 |
6,359 |
-26.8% |
4,824 |
-3.5% |
4,276 |
| Stainless Bar |
10,357 |
11,877 |
-12.8% |
7,195 |
44.0% |
8,401 |
| Stainless Rod |
6,857 |
7,957 |
-13.8% |
5,886 |
16.5% |
5,735 |
| Stainless Wire** |
2,636 |
2,789 |
-5.5% |
2,132 |
23.6% |
2,294 |
| Total Stainless*** |
55,699 |
67,926 |
-18.0% |
51,249 |
8.7% |
45,867 |
| Tool Steel |
6,249 |
6,031 |
3.6% |
5,751 |
8.7% |
5,624 |
| Electrical Steel |
9,269 |
11,857 |
-21.8% |
8,893 |
4.2% |
7,558 |
| Total Specialty Steel*** |
77,302 |
85,813 |
-17.0% |
65,893 |
8.1% |
59,049 |
| CONSUMPTION |
| Stainless Sheet/Strip |
149,001 |
170,008 |
-12.4% |
158,533 |
-6.0% |
155,876 |
| Stainless Plate |
18,331 |
23,241 |
-21.1% |
21,498 |
-14.7% |
18,449 |
| Stainless Bar |
21,224 |
24,431 |
-13.1% |
17,954 |
18.2% |
19,949 |
| Stainless Rod |
8,703 |
10,508 |
-17.2% |
7,995 |
8.8% |
7,453 |
| Stainless Wire** |
6,051 |
7,033 |
-14.0% |
6,918 |
-12.5% |
6,025 |
| Total Stainless*** |
203,310 |
235,220 |
-13.6% |
212,899 |
-4.5% |
207,752 |
| Tool Steel |
9,177 |
10,131 |
-9.4% |
8,717 |
5.3% |
8,836 |
| Electrical Steel |
41,159 |
51,128 |
-19.5% |
40,541 |
1.5% |
42,144 |
| Total Specialty Steel*** |
253,646 |
296,479 |
-14.4% |
262,157 |
-3.2% |
258,731 |
| IMPORT
PENETRATION |
| Stainless Sheet/Strip |
20.9% |
22.9% |
-2.0% |
19.7% |
1.2% |
16.1% |
| Stainless Plate |
25.4% |
27.4% |
-2.0% |
22.4% |
3.0% |
23.2% |
| Stainless Bar |
48.8% |
48.6% |
0.2% |
40.1% |
8.7% |
42.1% |
| Stainless Rod |
78.8% |
75.7% |
3.1% |
73.6% |
5.2% |
76.9% |
| Stainless Wire** |
43.6% |
39.7% |
3.9% |
30.8% |
12.7% |
38.1% |
| Total Stainless*** |
27.4% |
28.9% |
-1.5% |
24.1% |
3.3% |
22.1% |
| Tool Steel |
68.1% |
59.5% |
8.6% |
66.0% |
2.1% |
63.6% |
| Electrical Steel |
22.5% |
23.2% |
-0.7% |
21.9% |
0.6% |
17.9% |
| Total Specialty Steel*** |
28.1% |
28.9% |
-0.9% |
25.1% |
2.9% |
22.8% |
| NOTE: |
Changes in import penetration are percentage
point changes. |
| * |
Imports adjusted to exclude hot bands imported
for re-rolling and reported under shipments.
|
| ** |
Shipments for 2000 estimated and subject
to revision when actual data is received.
|
| *** |
Shipment and consumption data for these
categories may be overstated due to the inclusion
of shipments from wire redrawers which are
aready included in shipments/imports of rod;
consequently import penetration may be slightly
understated. |
Prepared by Georgetown Economic Services
for the Specialty Steel Industry of North America
U.S. Imports, Consumption and Market Penetration
Data*
For Specialty Steel Product Lines
2000/1999/1998
|
Imports |
U.S. Consumption |
Nine
Month
Import Penetration |
Specialty Steel
Product Lines |
Sept.
2000 |
YTD
Sept.
2000 |
Percent
Increase/
Decrease |
YTD
Sept.
2000 |
Percent
Increase/
Decrease |
YTD
Sept.
2000 |
YTD
Sept.
1999 |
| Stainless Sheet/Strip |
25,160 |
323,881 |
13% |
1,491,519 |
7% |
22% |
21% |
| Stainless Plate |
4,276 |
56,520 |
32% |
202,101 |
11% |
28% |
23% |
| Stainless Bar |
8,401 |
99,529 |
68% |
208,162 |
33% |
48% |
38% |
| Stainless Rod |
5,735 |
65,509 |
42% |
86,665 |
28% |
76% |
68% |
| Stainless Wire** |
2,294 |
23,747 |
34% |
65,284 |
2% |
36% |
28% |
Total Stainless Steel***
(Sheet, Strip, Plate, Bar, Rod & Wire) |
45,867 |
569,187 |
26% |
2,053,732 |
10% |
28% |
24% |
| Tool Steel |
5,624 |
56,726 |
1% |
85,128 |
-1% |
67% |
65% |
| Electrical Steel |
7,558 |
90,595 |
13% |
432,559 |
16% |
21% |
22% |
| Total Specialty |
59,049 |
716,509 |
22% |
2,571,418 |
11% |
28% |
25% |
1999 and 1998 statistical data in tons follow:
|
Imports |
U.S. Consumption
|
Twelve
Month
Import Penetration |
Specialty Steel
Product Lines |
1999
|
Percent
Increase/
Decrease |
1999
|
Percent
Increase/
Decrease |
1999
|
1998
|
| Stainless Sheet/Strip |
407,032 |
-2% |
1,896,918 |
4% |
21% |
23% |
| Stainless Plate |
60,304 |
7% |
249,955 |
-6% |
24% |
21% |
| Stainless Bar |
87,537 |
-7% |
219,156 |
-8% |
40% |
40% |
| Stainless Rod |
65,672 |
6% |
94,783 |
5% |
69% |
69% |
| Stainless Wire** |
24,738 |
-19% |
72,398 |
-21% |
34% |
33% |
Total Stainless Steel***
(Sheet, Strip, Plate, Bar, Rod & Wire) |
645,282 |
-2% |
2,533,210 |
1% |
25% |
26% |
| Tool Steel |
74,117 |
9% |
113,431 |
5% |
65% |
63% |
| Electrical Steel |
115,012 |
- 8% |
512,062 |
-1% |
22% |
24% |
| Total Specialty |
834,412 |
-2% |
3,158,703 |
1% |
26% |
27% |
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