Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel output ticks back up

Written by David Schollaert


Domestic production of raw steel inched higher last week, recovering after declining the week prior, according to the most recent data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Steel output in the US totaled an estimated 1,734,000 short tons (st) in the week ended March 9. That’s up 1% from the previous week and up 0.9% from the same week last year when production stood at 1,718,000 st.

The mill capability utilization rate was 78.1% in the week ended March 9, up from 77.3% a week earlier and from 76.9% a year ago.

Year-to-date production through March 9 was 16,593,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 75.8%. That was off 3.3% from 17,168,000 st in the same period a year earlier when capability utilization was 77.7%.

Production by region is shown below, with the week-over-week changes shown in parentheses:

  • Northeast – 137,000 st (up 3,000 st)
  • Great Lakes – 586,000 st (up 20,000 st)
  • Midwest – 185,000 st (down 8,000 st)
  • South – 762,000 st (up 7,000 st)
  • West – 64,000 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

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