Steel Products Prices North America

Steel Mill Utilization Stays Above 81 Percent
Written by Tim Triplett
April 30, 2019
U.S. raw steel production for the week ending April 27 decreased by 0.4 percent from the previous week to 1,895,000 net tons, while the mill capability utilization rate inched down to 81.4 percent. The week’s production represented a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Adjusted year-to-date production through April 27 totaled 31,849,000 tons at an average capability utilization rate of 81.9 percent, an increase of 6.8 percent from the same period last year when the utilization rate was 76.4 percent
Following is production by district for the April 27 week: North East: 201,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 737,000 net tons; Midwest, 188,000 net tons; South, 696,000 net tons; and West, 73,000 net tons, for a total of 1,895,000 tons. Production increased in the North East, Midwest and West, but declined in the South and Great Lakes.
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

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.

Nucor carries $875/ton HR list price into week seven
Nucor is keeping hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged again this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice issued on Monday, Oct. 6

SMU Price Ranges: A newsy week sees modest price gains despite a quiet spot market
Market participants predicted that prices should be at or near a bottom. But while most seemed to agree on that point, many also said they saw little upside given a quiet spot market and ongoing concerns about demand.

Nucor increases plate prices by $60/ton
Nucor aims to increase prices for steel plate by $60 per short ton with the opening of its November order book.