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    April 11, 2022

    Raw Steel Production Up a Tad, Utilization Still Below 80%

    Written by David Schollaert

    Raw steel production by US mills rebounded last week, following repeated declines the prior two weeks. Despite the gain, utilization rates remain below the 80% mark for the third straight week. Domestic output totaled 1,739,000 net tons in the week ending April 9, while mill capacity utilization was 79.7%, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported.

    US output was up 0.9% versus the week prior but 2.7% below the same year-ago period when production was 1,787,000 net tons. Mill capacity utilization last week was 0.4 percentage points above the prior week and 0.9 percentage points above the same period one year ago when utilization was 78.8%.

    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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