Steel Products
Raw Steel Production Rebounds: AISI
Written by David Schollaert
April 10, 2023
Raw steel production by US mills recovered slightly last week, rising 1% from the week prior, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Monday, April 10.
Domestic production stood at 1,675,000 net tons in the week ended April 8 vs. 1,658,000 tons the previous week. Output was off 6.3% from 1,788,000 tons in the same week last year. This marks the first increase after two consecutive weeks of output declines.
The mill capability utilization rate was 74.4% last week, up from 74.2% a week earlier and down markedly from 81.9% in the same week last year.
AISI said that adjusted year-to-date production through April 8 was 23,283,000 tons at a capability utilization rate of 74.4%. This is down 4.3% from the year-ago period when 24,323,000 tons were produced with an overall capability utilization rate of 80.3%.
Production by region for the week ending April is below. (Note: week-over-week change is in parentheses.)
- Northeast – 150,000 tons (up 11,000 tons)
- Great Lakes – 574,000 tons (up 12,000 tons)
- Midwest – 206,000 tons (down 16,000 tons)
- South – 677,000 tons (up 6,000 tons)
- West – 68,000 tons (up 4,000 tons)
Note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnages 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

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.

U.S. Steel to halt slab conversion at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]

SMU Week in Review: September 1-5
Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on.

HR Futures: Market finds footing on supply-side mechanics
As Labor Day marks the transition into fall, the steel market enters September with a similar sense of change. Supply-side fundamentals are beginning to show signs of restraint: imports are limited, outages loom, and production is capped, setting the stage for a market that feels steady on the surface but still unsettled underneath.

Beige Book: US markets remain cautious amidst volatile pricing environment
Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report. The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]