Prices

AISI: Raw Steel Output Inches Back Up
Written by Becca Moczygemba
June 20, 2023
Raw steel production by US mills rose last week, increasing from the previous week’s drop, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Tuesday, June 20.
Domestic production stood at 1,743,000 net tons during the week ended June 17, up 0.2% from 1,739,000 tons the previous week. Production is up 0.3% from the same period last year, when output was 1,738,000 tons.
The mill capability utilization rate was 77.5% last week, up from 77.3% a week earlier. Usage is down, however, from the same week of 2022 when the utilization rate was 79.6%.
AISI said that adjusted year-to-date production through June 17 was 40,728,000 tons at a capability utilization rate of 75.7%. This is down 3% from the year-ago period when 42,006,000 tons were produced with an overall capability utilization rate of 80.3%.
Production by region for the week ending June 17 is below. (Note: week-over-week changes are in parentheses.)
- Northeast – 142,000 tons (up 5,000 tons)
- Great Lakes – 564,000 tons (up 4,000 tons)
- Midwest – 214,000 tons (up 3,000 tons)
- South – 760,000 tons (down 6,000 tons)
- West – 63,000 tons (down 2,000 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 Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com
Becca Moczygemba
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Prices
Price gap between US HRC, most imports narrows slightly
In dollar-per-ton terms, US product is on average $141/st less than landed import prices (inclusive of the 50% tariff). That’s down from $148/st last week.
SMU price ranges: Sheet ticks higher, plate stable
Sheet steel indices increased across the board this week, while plate prices held steady. All five of SMU’s price indices are higher than they were two weeks ago, and all but one are above levels recorded four weeks ago.
Nucor lifts HR spot price by $10/ton
Nucor has raised its weekly spot list price on hot-rolled coil by $10 per short ton (st) after keeping it unchanged since Aug. 25.
Atlas Tube up $50/ton following NLMK USA sheet price hike
Atlas Tube, in a leading move, said it aims to increase prices for mechanical tubing, hollow structural sections (HSS), and piling products by at least $50 per short ton (st).
Pig iron market quiet as US mills aim to outwait Brazilian suppliers
US buyers want to drop pig iron prices to levels commensurate with the decline in prime scrap in their domestic market. Prime price shed $20 per gross ton (gt) in September and another $20/gt in October.
