Steel Mills
AISI: Raw steel production inches higher
Written by Ethan Bernard
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
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Steel Mills
Mexico’s TYASA breaks ground on SBQ rolling mill
Mexican steelmaker Talleres y Aceros (TYASA) broke ground this month on the construction of a new special bar quality (SBQ) rolling mill in the state of Veracruz.
Goncalves sees more US trade actions ahead, says Nippon deal for USS has ‘zero chance’
Cleveland-Cliffs’ Lourenco Goncalves thinks trade measures announced by the US government on Tuesday against China were just the opening salvo in a series of trade actions. Case in point: The Biden administration targeted China’s “unfair” trade policies with additional tariffs on an array of Chinese-made goods - including steel, aluminum, and EVs.
Nucor holds weekly HRC price steady after last week’s cut
Nucor chose to hold its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil steady this week after stunning the market last week with a significant price decline. The steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Monday morning that its $760-per-short-ton (st) CSP base price for HR coil is effective immediately. The price is unchanged from the CSP announced on May 6 but down $65/st from $825/st April 29.
Nucor’s Jellison set to retire, Spicer tapped for EVP role
Nucor said EVP Douglas J. Jellison plans to retire on June 8 after more than 33 years with the company. Randy J. Spicer will be promoted to EVP effective May 12.
Republican Senators demand Biden block USS sale to Nippon
Three vocal Republican senators are demanding that President Joe Biden block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel.