American specialty steel producers continued to lose more than 25% domestic market share to export-led strategies of foreign countries and producers last year, according to data released by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America. In the 11-month period January to November 2000, imports of all specialty steel captured 27% of the U.S. market. The industry's largest product line, stainless steel, also lost a 27% U.S. market share to imports during that time.

Total specialty-steel imports increased 11% to 835,414 tons in the first 11 months of 2000 compared with the same 1999 period, SSINA said. Stainless-steel imports also increased 11%.