Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel production rebounds
Written by David Schollaert
August 12, 2024
Domestic steel mill output rose last week after falling for two straight weeks, according to the latest release by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Total raw steel mill production was estimated at 1,735,000 short tons (st) in the week ending Aug. 10. That’s up 13,000 st, or 0.8%, from the week prior. It’s also the second highest weekly output year-to-date.
Raw steel production is in addition up 0.4% from the same week one year ago, when output totaled 1,742,000 st.
The mill capability utilization rate for last week was 78.1%. That’s higher than the week prior (77.5%) and than this time last year (76.6%).
Year-to-date production stands at 54,156,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.5%. This is down 2.1% vs. the same year-ago period, when 55,334,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.2%.
Weekly production by region is detailed below, with the weekly changes noted in parentheses:
- Northeast – 127,000 st (down 3,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 580,000 st (down 2,000 st)
- Midwest – 207,000 st (down 4,000 st)
- South – 752,000 st (up 19,000 st)
- West – 69,000 st (up 3,000 st)
Editor’s note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated and should be used primarily to assess production trends. The monthly AISI “AIS 7” report is available by subscription and provides a more detailed summary of domestic steel production.

David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Steel Mills

Cliffs talks DOE funding, blast furnace relining schedule
The future of two projects supported in part by funding through the Department of Energy remains uncertain.

Cleveland-Cliffs open to asset sales
Meanwhile, its Canadian operations have been hurt by the broader tariffs proposed by the United States.

As Q1 loss balloons, Cliffs pledges to cut costs, streamline operations
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. gushed red ink in the first quarter, and pledged to stem the bleeding by idling inefficient, “loss-making operations” and increasing focus on its core automotive business.

Cliffs plans to idle three mills, cut 950 jobs on ‘insufficient demand and pricing’
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to indefinitely idle its steel mill in Riverdale, Ill., as well as mills in Conshohocken, Pa., and Steelton, Pa. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said all three facilities would be idled on or around June 30. Approximately 950 jobs will be impacted, the company said.

CRU: Usiminas may reduce capex unless government strengthens protection
“The lack of effective measures to create fair competition, amid a surge in subsidized imports, is the main threat to the sustainability of Brazil’s steel industry and its value chain,” CEO Marcelo Chara said.