Weekly Raw Steel Production Remains Below 1.7 Million Ton Level

For the week ending March 5, 2016, the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) estimated the U.S. steel industry produced 1,673,000 net tons of raw steel, a 1.1 percent decrease over the previous week but a 2.6 percent increase over the same week one year ago. The estimated capacity utilization rate is 71.5 percent, down from 72.4 percent last week but up from 68.9 percent this time last year (note that the capacity utilization rates in 2016 are based on new lower total capabilities with the removal of US Steel Fairfield from the mix.)

Estimated total raw steel produced for 2016 YTD is reported to be 16,465,000 tons, down 5.8 percent from the 17,475,000 tons produced during the same period in 2015. The average capacity utilization rate for 2016 YTD is estimated to be 69.7 percent, down from 72.8 percent for 2015 YTD.