NOTE 4 — INVENTORIES

The Company operates in two segments: the flat-roll segment and the tubular segment. Both the flat-roll segment and tubular segment inventories consist of raw material and finished goods. Cost for all of the Company's flat-roll segment inventory, except for inventory of the Century Metals & Supplies subsidiary, is determined using the weighted average cost method. The cost of Century Metals & Supplies is determined using the specific identification method. Cost for all of the Company's tubular segment inventory is determined using the weighted average cost method. All inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Flat-roll raw material inventory consists primarily of carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum flat-roll products the Company will process into sheet, plate or slit coil. Flat-roll finished goods consists of processed sheet, plate or slit coil inventory. Tubular raw material inventory consists of hot-rolled steel coils that the Company will manufacture into pipe. Tubular finished goods inventory consists of pipe the Company has manufactured. Inventory costs include the costs of the purchased metals, inbound freight, transfer freight, certain external processing, internal processing, direct labor and applicable overhead costs.

A summary of inventory values by product group follows (in thousands):