Steel Mills
AISI: Raw steel output edges down
Written by David Schollaert
March 4, 2024
Domestic production of raw steel declined slightly last week, moving down for the first time in six weeks, according to the most recent data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Steel output in the US totaled an estimated 1,716,000 short tons (st) in the week ended March 2. That’s down 0.6% from the previous week and a decrease of 3.4% from the same week last year when production stood at 1,727,000 st.
The mill capability utilization rate was 77.3% in the week ended March 2, down from 77.8% a week earlier and from 79.5% a year ago.
Year-to-date production through March 2 was 14,859,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 75.5%. That was off 3.8% from 15,450,000 st in the same period a year earlier when capability utilization was 78.1%.
Production by region is shown below, with the week-over-week changes shown in parentheses:
- Northeast – 134,000 st (up 2,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 566,000 st (up 10,000 st)
- Midwest – 193,000 st (up 3,000 st)
- South – 755,000 st (down 20,000 st)
- West – 68,000 st (down 4,000 st)
Editor’s 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 U.S. production capacity.
David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Steel Mills
USW seeks clarity on plans for Granite City Works
The United Steelworkers union has asked U.S. Steel to elaborate on its Granite City Works plans following reports that the steelmaker is ending processing at the facility.
Nucor maintains plate prices, opens October order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat for a seventh straight month with the opening of its October order book.
ArcelorMittal Mexico to import from sister mills as it works to resume DRI production
ArcelorMittal has partially restarted operations at its direct reduction plant in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan. An explosion on Aug. 18 rocked the massive steelworks on Mexico’s Pacific coast, impacting production of direct-reduced iron (DRI).
Fall maintenance outages are coming in hot
Labor Day has passed, the sun is starting to set a little earlier each day, and cooler weather has begun to find its way down to many of us across North America. And you know what that means for the steel industry… Fall maintenance outages!
AISI: Domestic steel production ticks up
US raw steel production ticked up in the week ending on Sept. 6 after a decrease the week before, according to the most recent data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).