Mill Utilization Keeps Positive Momentum

U.S. raw steel production rose for the second consecutive week following a slight dip in mid-March. Weekly steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,766,000 tons in the week ending April 3, an increase of 0.3% compared with the week prior when production was 1,760,000 tons. The mill utilization rate last week averaged 77.9%, up from 77.6% week on week, and up 15.7% from the same period last year when production totaled 1,526,000 tons in the early stages of COVID-19.

Adjusted year-to-date production through April 3 was 23,172,000 net tons, at an average utilization rate of 77.0%. That’s down 4.2% from the same period last year when the utilization rate was 79.0% and production was 24,185,000 net tons, AISI said.