Steel Products Prices North America

Raw Steel Production Edges Back Down: AISI
Written by David Schollaert
October 11, 2022
Raw steel production by US mills slipped back down last week, unable to maintain the slight uptick seen the week prior. Last week’s utilization also edged down compared to the previous week. Utilization rates haven’t eclipsed the 80% mark in 14 weeks, the longest run since the pandemic.
Domestic steel output was 1,680,000 net tons in the week ending Oct. 8, while capability utilization was 75.3% — its lowest rate since the week ended Feb. 6, 2021, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Output was up 1.2% from the week prior but down 8.5% from last year’s production of 1,836,000 net tons. Mill capacity utilization last week was 1.8 percentage points below the prior week and 7.9 percentage points below the same period one year ago when utilization was 83.2%.
Adjusted year-to-date production through Oct. 8 totaled 69,707,000 net tons, with an average utilization rate of 79.4%. Production is 4.4% below the same period last year when production was 72,883,000 net tons and capability utilization was at 81.2%, AISI said.
Output fell in four out of the five regions last week. The Midwest region saw the sharpest decline week-on-week, down 11,000 net tons, or -5.6%, followed by the Great Lakes (-4,000 net tons or -0.7%), South (3,000 net tons or 0.4%), and the Northeast (-2,000 net tons or -1.4%). The West district was unchanged over the same period.
Production by region for the week ending Oct. 8 was as follows: Northeast, 136,000 tons; Great Lakes, 545,000 tons; Midwest, 185,000 tons; South, 743,000 tons; and West, 71,000 tons — for a total of 1,680,000 net tons, down 20,000 net tons from the prior week.

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
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
BREAKING NEWS: NLMK USA up $50/ton on HR and CR, up $100/ton on coated
NLMK USA plans to increase prices for hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil by at least $50 per short ton (st). The move is effective immediately for all spot orders, the steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Friday.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet floor holds as market debates upside
Our average HR coil price increased $5/short ton from last week, marking a second consecutive week of modest gains. Market participants generally attributed the increase to...
Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.
SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.
SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
