Steel Products

AISI Estimates Raw Steel Production Rose 0.9% Last Week
Written by Brett Linton
August 20, 2013
For the week ending August 17, 2013, the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. steel industry produced 1,878,000 net tons of raw steel, a 0.9 percent increase over the previous week but a 1.0 decrease over the same week one year ago. The estimated capacity utilization rate is 78.4 percent, up from 77.7 percent last week and up from 76.3 percent last year.
Estimated total raw steel produced for 2013 YTD is reported to be 60,992,000 NT, down 4.5 percent from the 63,845,000 NT produced through the same period in 2012. The average capacity utilization rate for 2013 YTD is estimated to be 77.1 percent, down from 77.8 percent for 2012 YTD. SMU advises our readers that since last year’s comparison is against different tonnage capacity, you are better served to compare tonnage production as done in the graphic provided above.
Week-over-week changes per district are as follows: North East at 219,000 net tons, up 11,000 tons. Great Lakes at 617,000 NT, down 37,000 tons. Midwest at 245,000 NT, up 3,000 tons. South at 709,000 NT, up 40,000 tons. West at 88,000 NT, down 1,000 tons. Total production was 1,878,000 NT, up 16,000 tons.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.

U.S. Steel to halt slab conversion at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]

SMU Week in Review: September 1-5
Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on.

HR Futures: Market finds footing on supply-side mechanics
As Labor Day marks the transition into fall, the steel market enters September with a similar sense of change. Supply-side fundamentals are beginning to show signs of restraint: imports are limited, outages loom, and production is capped, setting the stage for a market that feels steady on the surface but still unsettled underneath.

Beige Book: US markets remain cautious amidst volatile pricing environment
Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report. The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]