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    Weekly Raw Steel Production Slips, Down 0.6%

    Written by David Schollaert


    Domestic raw steel production edged down slightly after matching its pandemic-era high the week prior. Production by U.S. mills was estimated at 1,870,000 net tons in the week ending Oct. 23, while the average utilization rate was 84.7%, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

    Output was down 0.6% compared to the week prior when production was estimated at 1,882,000 net tons and average utilization was 85.3%. Last week’s production total represents a 20.7% increase from year-ago levels when the market was still working its way back from the COVID-related blows. Output then was 1,549,000 net tons and utilization was 70.1%.

    David Schollaert

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    Mills seek more scrap after lower prices fail to attract tons

    Several mills that bought October scrap early last week are still asking for additional supplies, scrap market participants said. The reason: the mills' initial prices did not attract enough of the raw material, they said. A trading source based in northern Ohio said three mills have contacted his firm seeking offers for additional tons. He said the mills asked for offers even if prices were higher than their original buys last week.

    Nucor increases spot HR to $1,240/ton

    Nucor said on Monday, Oct. 12, that its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil will be $1,240 per short ton (st) this week, a $10/st increase from a week earlier. The CSP for HR coil from California Steel Industries (CSI) on the West Coast will be $1,305/st, up $15/st from the prior week. Nucor is still offering lead times of three to five weeks, according to the letter to customers. You can track mill price announcements on our website. Steel Market Update (SMU) published a weekly price assessment on Tuesday, Oct. 6, showing HR coil prices averaging $1,270/st, up $10/st from the previous week. We will update our prices on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 13.