Steel Products

AISI Estimated Raw Steel Production for Last Week

March 6, 2013

The American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) reported their estimated raw steel production data for the week ending March 2, 2013. According to AISI estimates the U.S. steel industry produced 1,857,000 net tons of raw steel last week. This represents an increase of 0.8 percent compared to the week earlier but is 7.2 percent lower than the same week one year ago. However, as mentioned in the January monthly report article above. The weekly raw steel production reports should be taken with a grain of salt and viewed only as rough estimates – not fact.

The AISI estimates the capacity utilization rate to be 77.5 percent. SMU reminds our readers the AISI has made an adjustment to the domestic capabilities for 1st Quarter 2013. The new quarterly capability is 30.8 million tons. The 1Q 2012 capability number according to the AISI was 32.3 million tons and that number was adjusted to 32.7 million tons for 4Q 2012 with the addition of the new Severstal Columbus EAF.

Year to date the AISI estimates total raw steel produced to be 16,342,000 net tons, down 7.3 percent compared to the 17,623,000 tons produced through the same period last year. The average capacity utilization rate is estimated to be 75.7 percent so far this year, down from 79.1 percent last year – although last year comparison is against different tonnage and you are better served to compare tonnage production which we have done in the graphic provided above.

The North East district produced 196,000 net tons, down 1,000 tons from the previous week.
The Great Lakes district produced 674,000 net tons, up 5,000 tons from the previous week.
The Midwest district produced 264,000 net tons, up 6,000 tons from the previous week.
The Southern district produced 632,000 net tons, up 3,000 tons from the previous week.
The Western district produced 91,000 net tons, up 1,000 tons from the previous week.
Total production was 1,857,000 net tons, up 14,000 tons from the previous week.