Steel Products Prices North America
March Raw Steel Production
Written by John Packard
May 1, 2014
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) domestic raw steel production totaled 8,273,082 net tons (all products). Of the total 60 percent was produced by electric arc furnaces and the balance by blast/BOF furnaces. Carbon steel products totaled 7,681,790 net tons with 4,665,056 tons being produced by EAF’s and the balance, 3,016,734 tons by fully integrated mills.
Through the first three months 2014 total steel production was 23,849,005 tons (all products). Carbon steel products totaled 22,100,611 tons, and increase of 95,455 tons more than the first three months 2013.
Capacity utilization rates for the month of March were adjusted to 77.7 percent and for the year, 77.1 percent.
Below is a graph showing the monthly production levels on a three month moving average. After following a downward slope since September 2013, production levels increased in March to an average of 7,949,668 tons
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.
SMU Price Ranges: Some predict bottom is near as big discounts dry up
Sheet prices were mixed this week as some mills continued to offer significant discounts to larger buyers while others have shifted toward being more disciplined, market participants said.
SMU Price Ranges: Tags mixed as uncertainty weighs on market
SMU’s hot-rolled (HR) coil price held steady this week while prices for other sheet and plate products declined.
Nucor spot HR list price unchanged at $875/ton
Nucor kept its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil unchanged this week, following a price bump of $10 per short ton (st) last week.
SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.