Raw Steel Production Dips for the Week

Domestic raw steel production totaled 1,763,000 net tons in the week ending Aug. 19, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year, but a 1 percent decline from the prior week, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington.

The mill capability utilization rate for the week averaged 75.6 percent, up significantly from 70.8 percent in the year-ago week, but down slightly from the previous week’s 76.4 percent.

Adjusted year-to-date production through Aug. 19 was 57,413,000 net tons, a 3 percent increase from the same period last year. The capability utilization rate averaged 74.6 percent, up from 72.2 percent in 2016.

Following is raw steel production for the Aug. 19 week by district: North East, 205,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 679,000 net tons; Midwest, 164,000 net tons; South, 638,000 net tons; and West, 77,000 net tons, for a total of 1,763,000.

The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage provided by 50 percent of the domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The monthly AISI production report provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75 percent of U.S. production capacity.

Capability for the third quarter is approximately 30.6 million tons, compared to 30.7 million tons for the same period last year and 30.3 million tons for the second quarter.

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