The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports, US consumption, and import penetration for May 2009. The data represents US consumption, imports and import penetration for YTD May 2009 compared to the same 2008 three month period. The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:

1. Stainless steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD May 2009 were 79,027 tons, a 63.7% decrease compared to YTD May 2008; US consumption was 331,893 tons, a 48.3% decrease; five month import penetration was 23.8%, a 10.2 percentage point decrease from 2008.

2. Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD May 2009 were 15,461 tons, a 62.4% decrease compared to YTD May 2008; US consumption was 67,946 tons, a 39.9% decrease; five month import penetration was 22.8%, a 13.6 percentage point decrease from 2008.

3. Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD May 2009 were 35,897 tons, a 30.7% decrease compared to YTD May 2008; US consumption was 68,045 tons, a 32.8% decrease; five month import penetration was 52.8%, a 1.7 percentage point increase from 2008.

4. Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD May 2009 were 4,817 tons, a 63.6% decrease compared to YTD May 2008; US consumption was 11,477 tons, a 56.9% decrease; five month import penetration was 42.0%, a 7.8 percentage point decrease from 2008.

5. Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD May 2009 were 12,152 tons, a 34.9% decrease compared to YTD May 2008; US consumption was 16,134 tons, a 48.5% decrease; five month import penetration was 75.3%, a 15.7 percentage point increase from 2008.