Features
AISI: Raw steel production ticks up
Written by Brett Linton
January 13, 2025
Raw steel mill production increased last week, according to the most recently released American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data. This three-week high comes just one week after production fell to a seven-week low.
Total US mill raw production was estimated at 1,659,000 short tons (st) through the week ending Jan. 11 (Figure 1). Production recovered 1.5% from the previous week and is 1.8% greater than the same week one year ago.
The mill capability utilization rate last week was 74.5%. This is higher than the previous weekly rate (73.6%) as well as the same week one year earlier (73.3%).
Year-to-date production now totals 2,593,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 74.1%. This is 1.3% higher than the same period of last year, when 2,560,000 st had been produced at a capability utilization rate of 73.3%.
Weekly production by region is as follows (weekly changes shown in parentheses):
- Northeast – 128,000 st (up 4,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 483,000 st (down 61,000 st)
- Midwest – 240,000 st (up 20,000 st)
- South – 750,000 st (up 57,000 st).
- West – 58,000 st (up 4,000 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.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Features
Final Thoughts
Even before the news about Mexico, I didn’t want to overstate the magnitude of the change in momentum. As far as we could tell, there hadn’t been a frenzy of new ordering following President Trump’s announcement of 50% Section 232 tariffs. But higher tariffs had unquestionably raised prices for imports, which typically provide the floor for domestic pricing. We’d heard, for example, that prices below $800 per short ton for hot-rolled (HR) coil were gone from the domestic market – even for larger buyers.
Reibus closes down its online metals marketplace
The Atlanta-based company informed customers on Monday it is shutting down its metal division while continuing to operate the logistics business.
AISI: Raw steel production climbs to three-year high
Domestic steel mills are ramping up production, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), with output rising to a three-year high last week.
April steel exports fall to lowest level since 2020
US steel exports totaled 579,000 short tons (st) in April, according to US Department of Commerce data. That's the lowest monthly volume recorded since July 2020.
Final Thoughts
I want to draw your attention to SMU’s monthly scrap market survey. It’s a premium feature that complements our long-running steel market survey. We’ve been running our scrap survey since late January. And over just that short time, it’s become a valuable way not only for us to assess where scrap prices might go but also to quantify some of the “fuzzy” indicators - like sentiment and flows - that help to put the price in context.