Raw Steel Production Moves Higher: AISI

The mill capability utilization rate was 77.2% last week, up from 76.8% a week earlier and the highest rate since early September 2022. Despite the boost, the measure was still down from 81.1% in the same week last year.

AISI said that adjusted year-to-date production through May 27 was 35,352,000 tons at a capability utilization rate of 75.1%. This is down 3.9% from the year-ago period when 36,774,000 tons were produced with an overall capability utilization rate of 80.5%.

Production by region for the week ending May 27 is below. (Note: week-over-week change is in parentheses.)

• Northeast – 143,000 tons (down 4,000 tons)
• Great Lakes – 558,000 tons (down 8,000 tons)
• Midwest – 223,000 tons (up 11,000 tons)
• South – 744,000 tons (up 16,000 tons)
• West – 59,000 tons (down 6,000 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