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    May 25, 2021

    Weekly Raw Steel Production Edges Down

    Written by David Schollaert

    Raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,793,000 net tons in the week ended May 22, down 0.3% compared to the week prior when production totaled 1,799,000 net tons, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The mill utilization rate last week averaged 79.0%, down from 79.2% the week before but up 46.6% from the same period last year when production was 1,223,000 net tons and mill utilization was just 54.6% due to COVID-related disruptions.

    The market is still behind pre-pandemic levels, according the data compiled by AISI. When comparing the latest data to the same pre-COVID-19 period in 2019, current production is down 5.2%. Adjusted year-to-date production through May 22 was 35,681,000 net tons, at an average utilization rate of 77.6%. That’s up 8.7% from the same period last year when the utilization rate was 69.9% and production was 32,811,000 net tons, AISI said.

    David Schollaert

    David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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