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
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The difference: The spat with Turkey was a big deal for steel. This time, the 50% reciprocal tariff for Brazil – if it goes into effect as threatened on Aug.1 – hits everything from coffee and to pig iron. It seems almost custom-built to inflict as much pain as possible on Brazil.