January 2007

• Production and shipments of steel and steel products returned to normal levels after planned slowdowns and market conditions surrounding the holiday season in December.
• Compared to December 2006, production of primary steel and pig iron increased 18.3% in January 2007 to 1,366,359 metric tones and 5.6% compared to January 2006.
• Likewise total dispositions of shipments of rolled steel products jumped 36% to 1,229,467 metric tonnes in January 2007 from December 2006.
• Between December 2006 and January 2007, steel pipe and tubing production surged 31.6% to 232,461 metric tonnes.
• Total shipments of steel wire and specified wire products leapt 44.9% to 44,471 metric tonnes in January 2007 but were down 3.7 % compared to 46,168 metric tonnes in January 2006.