Steel Products Prices North America
U.S Raw Steel Production Remains in Tight Range
Written by Tim Triplett
April 17, 2018
U.S. raw steel production has leveled off in a range slightly above or below the 1.8 milllion ton level for the past several weeks. Mill capacity utilization remains stubbornly in the mid to upper 70s, despite domestic producers’ desire to top the 80 percent mark.
Steel production for the week ending April 14 totaled 1,784,000 net tons, a 3.7 percent increase from the same period last year, but down 1.2 percent from the previous week. The mill capability utilization rate for the April 14 week averaged 76.1 percent, down slighty from 77.0 percent the prior week, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington.
Adjusted year-to-date producton through April 14 totaled 26,181,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 75.5 percent. That’s up 1.4 percent from 25,810,000 tons in the same period last year when the capability utilization was 74.4 percent.
Following is production by district for the week of April 14: North East: 213,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 685,000 net tons; Midwest, 159,000 net tons; South, 653,000 net tons; and West, 74,000 net tons, for a total of 1,784,000.
Note, mill capability for second-quarter 2018 is approximately 30.5 million tons, compared to 30.3 million tons for the same period last year and 30.0 million tons for first-quarter 2018.
The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage from 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 AISI monthly production report provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75 percent of U.S. production capacity.
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Tim Triplett
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