Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel production inches higher

May 6, 2024

Raw steel output in the US ticked up last week, according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.

AISI estimated total domestic steel output to have been 1,709,000 short tons (st) in the week ending May 4, up 0.5% from the prior week. However, this was down 2.9% from 1,760,000 st in the same week a year earlier.

The mill capability utilization rate was 77.0% last week, up from 76.6% a week ago but down from 78.2% at this time last year.

As of May 4, year-to-date production stood at 30,259,000 st with a YTD mill capability utilization rate of 76.3%. This is down 2.9% from the same time last year when production was 31,151,000 st and mills were operating at 77.9%.

Production by region

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

Northeast – 133,000 st (down 7,000 st)
Great Lakes – 566,000 st (down 6,000 st)
Midwest – 197,000 st (down 10,000 st)
South – 740,000 st (up 19,000 st)
West – 73,000 st (up 12,000 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.

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.