HC Deb 15 November 1982 vol 32 cc34-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what have been the levels and sources of steel imports for the past eight months; and what percentage of the British market these represent.

Mr. Butcher

The available information is as follows:

United Kingdom imports of steel industry products
thousand tonnes
From January-August 1982 January-June 1982
As percentage of United Kingdom consumption
EC 1,815 1,446 21.8
of which:
Belgium-Luxembourg 236 188 2.8
France 264 207 3.1
Germany Federal Republic 672 536 8.1
Italy 212 162 2.4
Netherlands 332 269 4.1
Other Western Europe 459 374 5.6
of which:
Spain 120 99 1.5
Sweden 132 107 1.6
Eastern Europe 159 127 1.9
Africa 71 51 0.8
America 130 114 1.7
Asia 64 40 0.6
Oceania 3 2 0.0
Total 2,702 2,153 32.5

Sources: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau, Department of Industry.

Notes:

(1) Consumption figures, which are compiled on a quarterly basis, are available only for the first half of 1982. The import figures have also been given for this period.

(2) Consumption is defined as producers' deliveries less exports plus imports less stock change.

(3) The import figures given include material for conversion. Figures excluding material for conversion, which is the usual basis for assessing market share, are not available by country. In the first half of 1982, United Kingdom total imports excluding material for conversion accounted for 26.4 per cent. of United Kingdom consumption.

(4) Country information is given where imports exceeded 100,000 tonnes in the period January-August 1982.