Steel Markets

Weekly Raw Steel Output Keeps Upward Move: AISI

Written by David Schollaert

February 6, 2023

Raw steel production by US mills rose for a fourth straight week, cresting the 74% utilization mark for the first time since the last week of October 2022, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The increase pushed capacity utilization up to 74.1%, driven by increases in tons in the Northeast, Midwest, and South regions. This is up from the prior week’s 73.1%, but down from 80.4% a year ago. 

Domestic mills produced 1,656,000 net tons in the week ending Feb. 4, up 1.3%, or 21,000 tons, from the previous week, but down 5.2% from 1,747,000 tons in the same week last year.

Adjusted year-to-date (YTD) production through Feb. 4 was at 8,108,000 tons, with YTD capacity utilization at 72.5%. That’s 6.7% below the 8,688,000 tons in the same YTD period in 2022 when capacity utilization was 79.9%, AISI said.

Production by region for the week ending Jan. 28 is below. (Note: week-over-week change is in parentheses.)

  • Northeast, 152,000 tons (up 22,000 tons)
  • Great Lakes, 528,000 tons (down 16,000 tons)
  • Midwest, 207,000 tons (up 6,000 tons)
  • South, 705,000 tons (up 5,000 tons)
  • West, 64,000 tons (down 6,000 tons)

WeeklyRawSteelProd Wk6.1

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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