AISI: Raw steel production falls to three-month low

The week ended Jan. 27 marked the last time weekly production was this low. At that time, AISI estimated that 1,680,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 75.6%.

Raw steel production through last week was down 0.6% compared to the year-to-date weekly average of 1,712,000 st. Last week’s production was also down 3.8% compared to the same week one year ago, when production totaled 1,769,000 st.  

The mill capability utilization rate was 76.6% last week, down from both the week prior (77.3%) and this time last year (78.6%).

Year-to-date production now totals 28,550,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.3%. Annual production is down 2.9% from the same time frame last year, when 29,391,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.9%.

Production by region

Weekly production by region is shown below, with the weekly changes noted in parentheses:

• Northeast – 140,000 st (up 5,000 st)
• Great Lakes – 572,000 st (down 4,000 st)
• Midwest – 207,000 st (down 6,000 st)
• South – 721,000 st (down 3,000 st)
• West – 61,000 st (down 7,000 st)

Editor’s note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. 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.