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

SMU Community Chat replay now available
The latest SMU Community Chat webinar reply is now available on our website to all members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the community tab and look under the “previous webinars” section of the dropdown menu. All past Community Chat webinars are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the webinar replay, or if your company […]

SSAB announces $74M expansion in Alabama
The project will expand heat treat capacity at its Axis, Alabama plant

Service centers: Mill orders retreat in March
SMU’s Mill Order Index declined in March after repeated gains at the start of the year, according to our latest service center inventories data.

Nucor maintains plate prices
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat with the opening of its June order book.

US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.