• Skip to main content

    Analysis

    AISI: Raw steel production slips to 7-week low

    Written by Brett Linton


    Raw steel mill production declined last week for the second-consecutive week, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Domestic production is now at the lowest level seen since mid-November. This comes just two weeks after production had recovered to a three-month high.

    Total US mill raw production was estimated at 1,635,000 short tons (st) through the week ending Jan. 4. Production declined by 23,000 st or 1.4% from the previous week and was 1.3% lower than the same week last year (Figure 1). While down, production is still higher than the 20-month low of 1,606,000 st recorded back in October.

    Brett Linton

    Read more from Brett Linton

    Latest in Analysis

    SMU Survey: Current Buyers’ Sentiment rises slightly as Future Sentiment dips

    SMU’s Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index ticked up slightly this week, while Future Sentiment fell, according to our latest market survey. Every two weeks, SMU polls thousands of steel-industry executives, asking them to rate their companies’ chances of success today and also three to six months down the road. We use their responses to calculate our proprietary Current and Future Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices, measures tracked since 2008.

    galvalume steel coil

    SMU Survey: Mill willingness to negotiate price at lowest levels since 2021

    The majority of steel buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that mills continue to hold a firm grip on prices. The share of buyers reporting that mills were negotiable fell this week to the lowest rate seen in over five years. Every two weeks, SMU surveys service center and manufacturer buyers asking if mills are negotiable on new spot sheet and plate orders. In this week’s survey, just 3% of respondents said mills were willing to talk price to secure an order (Figure 1). This is down 11 percentage points from our mid-October survey.