Steel Markets

AISI: Raw steel production inches higher

Written by Ethan Bernard

September 9, 2024

Raw steel production by US mills ticked up slightly last week, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Domestic mills produced an estimated 1,772,000 short tons (st) of raw steel in the week ending Sept. 7. This was a 0.7% rise from a week earlier and a 4.8% jump from 1,691,000 st a year ago.

The mill capability utilization rate stood at 79.8% last week, rising from 79.2% the week prior and 74.4% a year earlier.

AISI said adjusted year-to-date production was 61,110,000 st through Sept. 7 with a mill capability utilization rate of 76.7%. That marks a 1.8% slip from 62,251,000 st in the same 2023 period when the capability utilization rate was 76.9%.

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

  • Northeast – 128,000 st (up 3,000 st)
  • Great Lakes – 596,000 st (down 6,000 st)
  • Midwest – 215,000 st (up 3,000 st)
  • South – 767,000 st (up 7,000 st)
  • West – 66,000 st (up 5,000 st)

Editor’s note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated and should be used primarily to assess production trends. AISI’s monthly “AIS 7” report is available by subscription and provides a more detailed summary of domestic 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.

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