Steel Products Prices North America

Weekly Raw Steel Production Edged Up Again

Written by David Schollaert

August 23, 2022

Raw steel production by US mills was up slightly last week, expanding for the second straight week. Domestic output was 1,756,000 net tons in the week ending Aug. 20, while capacity utilization was 79.7%. Though up, the result marks the sixth consecutive week below 80%, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

US output was up 0.8% versus the week prior but still down 6.2% versus the same period last year when production was 1,872,000 net tons. Mill capacity utilization last week was 0.7 percentage points above the prior week yet 5.1 percentage points below the same period one year ago when utilization was 84.8%.

Adjusted year-to-date production through Aug. 20 totaled 57,968,000 net tons, at an average utilization rate of 80.1%. That’s 3.3% below the same period last year when production was 59,960,000 net tons, though the utilization rate was lower then at 80.7%, AISI said.

Output rose in four of five regions last week. The South saw the largest gain week-on-week (WoW) at 8,000 net tons (+1.1%), followed by a 3,000 net ton gain in the Northeast (+1.9%). The Midwest was up (+1.5%), and there was a 2,000 net ton gain in the West (+3.0%). The Great Lakes was the sole region to post a WoW output decline, down 2,000 net tons (-0.4%).

Production by region for the week ending Aug. 20 was as follows: Northeast, 161,000 tons; Great Lakes, 555,000 tons; Midwest, 205,000 tons; South, 765,000 tons; and West, 69,000 tons—for a total of 1,755,000 net tons, up 14,000 net tons from the prior week.

WeeklyRawSteelProd Wk34

Note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage provided by approximately 50% of the domestic production capacity combined with the most recent monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The AISI production report “AIS 7,” published monthly and available by subscription, provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75% of US production capacity.

By David Schollaert, David@SteelMarketUpdate.com

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst 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. Based in CRU’s Pittsburgh office, David can be reached at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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