Steel Products Prices North America

Weekly Raw Steel Production Remains Near 80 Percent
Written by Brett Linton
September 25, 2018
U.S. raw steel production for the week ending Sept. 22 totaled 1,863,000 net tons, up 8.9 percent from the same period last year and 0.1 percent from the prior week, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute. The mill capability utilization rate of 79.5 percent, up from 73.4 percent this time last year, once again flirted with the 80 percent benchmark sought by the industry.
Adjusted year-to-date producton through Sept. 22 totaled 68,601,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 77.5 percent, up 4.4 percent from the same period last year when the capability utilization was 74.4 percent.
Following is production by district for the Sept. 22 week: North East: 218,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 695,000 net tons; Midwest, 202,000 net tons; South, 664,000 net tons; and West, 84,000 net tons, for a total of 1,863,000.
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.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.

HRC vs. busheling spread narrows in August
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed in August, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.

SMU Price Ranges: Market drifts lower still
All five of SMU's steel sheet and plate price indices declined this week, falling to lows last seen in February.

Discontentment brews in plate market with flat, status-quo pricing
Sources in the carbon and alloy steel plate market said they are less discouraged by market uncertainty resulting from tariffs or foreign relations, but are instead, eager to see disruption to the flat pricing environment.

Nucor lowers HR coil spot price by $15/ton
Nucor has implemented a double-digit price decrease on spot hot-rolled (HR) coil for the second consecutive week.