Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 16% in January Highest Total Imports Since January 2009

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1 News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2010 CONTACT: NANCY GRAVATT / Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 16% in uary Highest Total Imports Since uary 2009 Washington, D.C. Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 1,634,000 net tons (NT) of steel in uary, including 1,257,000 NT of finished steel (up 16% and 11%, respectively, vs. December final data). Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2010 would be 19.6 and 15.1 million NT, respectively, up 21% and 6% vs Total imports were highest monthly amount since uary Finished imports recorded their highest amount since March of Finished steel import market share was an estimated 18% in uary, which is around 3 percentage points higher than in August Key finished steel products with increases in uary 2010 compared to December include oil country goods (103%), heavy structural shapes (40%), plates in coils (30%) and sheets & strip hot dipped galvanized (26%). % var (1 mo) (1 mo) % var % var. Dec.. vs. YTD YTD '10 vs ann. Steel Mill Product (prelim.) final Dec '09 Annualized 12 mo. vs mo. Ingots and Billets and Slabs 375, , % 375, , % 4,502,706 2,014, % Sheets Hot Rolled 167, , % 167, , % 2,011,166 1,739, % Line Pipe 124, , % 124, , % 1,494,267 1,603, % Oil Country Goods 117,823 57, % 117, , % 1,413,871 1,602, % Sheets & Strip Galv Hot Dipped 100,918 80, % 100, , % 1,211,015 1,033, % Sheets Cold Rolled 93, , % 93, , % 1,125,502 1,137, % Wire Rods 87, , % 87,135 85, % 1,045, , % Bars - Hot Rolled 83,991 85, % 83, , % 1,007, , % Standard Pipe 60,074 47, % 60, , % 720, , % Plates in Coils 52,282 40, % 52,282 61, % 627, , % Wire Drawn 46,519 45, % 46,519 39, % 558, , % Plates Cut Lengths 39,212 42, % 39, , % 470, , % Sheets & Strip All Other Metal. 33,380 27, % 33,380 42, % 400, , % Tin Plate 32,892 31, % 32,892 21, % 394, , % Structural Shapes Heavy 31,861 22, % 31, , % 382, , % Bars - Reinforcing 24,342 21, % 24,342 54, % 292, , % Mechanical Tubing 23,338 20, % 23,338 49, % 280, , % All Other 139, , % 139, , % 1,669,035 1,581, % TOTAL 1,633,990 1,410, % 1,633,990 2,368, % 19,607,867 16,214, % SUBTOTAL Finished Imports 1,257,050 1,132, % 1,257,050 2,156, % 15,084,605 14,178, %

2 Highest Total Imports Since uary 2009/ Page 2 In uary, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (150,000 NT, up 45%), Japan (78,000 NT, down 24%), China (66,000 NT, up 40%), Italy (48,000 NT, down 2%) and Germany (37,000 NT, down 13%). Below are charts on estimated steel import market share by month and finished steel imports by country. 40% Estimated Finished Steel Import Market Share by Month and Annually ( ) 36% 33% 29% 25% 21% 2008 avg avg. 18% 14% 10% Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN % incr. (1 mo) (1 mo) % incr % incr. COUNTRY Dec.. YTD YTD '10 YTD full year an vs Dec vs. '09 (est.) Annual vs. '09 South Korea % % 1,805 1, % Japan % % % China % % 791 1, % Italy % % % Germany % % % United Kingdom % % % Taiwan % % % Australia % % % All Other % 785 1, % 9,419 8, % Total 1,257 1, % 1,257 2, % 15,085 14, % -MORE

3 Highest Total Imports Since uary 2009/ Page 3 3 MONTHS ROLLING AVERAGE Preliminary Actual Current 3 Months Product 3 Mos. Rolling Avg. 3 Mos. Prior vs 3 Months Prior Nov. 09 Oct. 09- Aug. 09 % Change Sheets Hot Rolled % Line Pipe % Sheets Cold Rolled % Sheets & Strip Galv Hot Dipped % Wire Rods % Bars - Hot Rolled % Oil Country Goods % Standard Pipe % Wire Drawn % Plates in Coils % All Other % Total 1,133 1, % 3 MONTHS ROLLING AVERAGE Preliminary Actual Current 3 Months Country 3 Mos. Rolling Avg. 3 Mos. Prior vs 3 Months Prior Nov. 09 Oct. 09- Aug. 09 % Change South Korea % Japan % China % Italy % Germany % Netherlands % Brazil % Australia % India % United Kingdom % All Other % Total 1,133 1, % Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

4 Highest Total Imports Since uary 2009/ Page 4 Monthly Imports 2009 vs Millions of Net Tons J9 J10 F9 F10 M9 M10 A9 A10 M9 M10 J9 J10 J9 J10 A9 A10 S9 S10 O9 O10 N9 N10 D9 D10 Semi-finished Finished % change finished imports uary 2010 vs uary 2009 = -42.7% 3 Month Rolling Averages and YTD 2009 vs Millions of Net Tons Mos. Prior Rolling Avg. 3 Mos. Rolling Avg Mos YTD *2010 Annualized Semi Finished Finished % change finished imports 3 Mos. Rolling Avg. vs. 3 Mos. Prior = 10.0% % change semi-finished imports 2010 vs 2009 = 122.2% % change finished imports 2010 vs 2009 = 6.4% *preliminary

5 Highest Total Imports Since uary 2009/ Page 5 AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI s Web site at -###-