EXHIBIT 23

                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDITORS


         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-10679) of Olympic Steel, Inc. of our report dated
February 9, 2004, relating to the financial statements, which appears in the
Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
February 9, 2004