Steel Products Prices North America

U.S. Raw Steel Production Down Slightly for the Week
Written by Tim Triplett
July 17, 2018
U.S. raw steel production for the week ending July 14 totaled 1,783,000 net tons, a 2.9 percent increase from the same period last year but down 0.5 percent from the previous week. The mill capability utilization rate for the July 14 week averaged 76.1 percent, down from 76.4 percent in the prior week but up from 74.3 percent in the same week last year, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. Mill utilization remains short of the industry goal of 80 percent or more and still lags this year’s peak of 78.7 percent recorded in March.
Adjusted year-to-date producton through July 14 totaled 49,705,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 76.3 percent. That’s up 2.9 percent from 48,304,000 tons in the same period last year when the capability utilization was 74.4 percent.
Following is production by district for the week of July 14: North East: 207,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 666,000 net tons; Midwest, 179,000 net tons; South, 658,000 net tons; and West, 73,000 net tons, for a total of 1,783,000.
Note, mill capability for third-quarter 2018 is approximately 30.8 million tons, compared to 30.6 million tons for the same period last year and 30.5 million tons for second-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.

Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest 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.