Steel Products Prices North America
Weekly Raw Steel Production Drops After Last Week's High
Written by Brett Linton
August 24, 2015
For the week ending August 22, 2015, the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) estimated the U.S. steel industry produced 1,742,000 net tons of raw steel, a 1.5 percent decrease over the previous week and a 9.7 percent decrease over the same week one year ago. The estimated capacity utilization rate is 72.9 percent, down from 73.9 percent last week and down from 80.2 percent this time last year.
Estimated total raw steel produced for 2015 YTD is reported to be 57,513,000 tons, down 7.8 percent from the 62,408,000 tons produced during the same period in 2014. The average capacity utilization rate for 2015 YTD is estimated to be 72.6 percent, down from 78.0 percent for 2014 YTD.
Note that the total production capability figure for Q3 2015 is approximately 31.4 million tons versus 31.6 million tons for the same period last year and 30.7 million tons for the Q2 2015.
Week-over-week changes per district are as follows: Northeast at 217,000 tons, down 6,000 tons. Great Lakes at 660,000 tons, up 13,000 tons. Midwest at 205,000 tons, down 6,000 tons. South at 573,000 tons, down 24,000 tons. West at 87,000 tons, down 3,000 tons. Total production was 1,742,000 tons, down 26,000 tons.
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing the weekly raw steel production history. To use the graphs interactive capabilities, you must view it on our website. You can do this by clicking here. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.
SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.
SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.
SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.