September Steel Shipments Up 6.6 Percent From Last Year

WASHINGTON, D.C.¨C The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that for the month of September 2006, U.S. steel mills shipped 9,199,000 net tons, a 6.6 percent increase from the 8,630,000 net tons shipped in September 2005, and a 4.1 percent decrease from the 9,591,000 net tons shipped in the previous month, August 2006. A year-to-year comparison of year-to-date shipments shows the following changes within major market classifications: service centers and distributors, up 4.9 percent; automotive, up 12.2 percent; construction and contractors¡¯ products, up 12.5 percent; oil and gas, up 10.5 percent; machinery, industrial equipment and tools, up 7.5 percent; appliances, utensils and cutlery, down 4.2 percent; containers, packaging and shipping materials, up 3.3 percent; and electrical equipment, up 20.8 percent. 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 32 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 125 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent more than 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 www.steel.org.