P.M. BRIEFING : Steel Imports Fall 5.9% in July

PITTSBURGH — Steel imports fell 5.9% to 1.46 million tons in July compared with the previous month and represented 19.3% of the domestic supply, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported today.

Steel imports for the first seven months of 1989 were 10.2 million tons, down 19.7% from the same period last year and representing 17.5% of domestic supply, the trade group reported.

Steel exports in July amounted to 303,000 tons, down 24.8% from June, the group said. In July, 1988, American steel manufacturers exported 128,000 tons.

The steel import group noted the percentage without semi-finished steel is below the Bush Administration’s voluntary restraint agreements target of 18.5% of imported steel in the domestic market.