Trade Cases

Raw Steel Production Edges Up 0.9%: AISI
Written by David Schollaert
June 26, 2023
Raw steel production by US mills moved higher again last week, gaining ground for the second straight week, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Monday, June 26.
Domestic production stood at 1,758,000 net tons during the week ended June 24, up 0.9% from 1,743,000 tons the previous week. Production is up 1.2% from the same period last year, when output was 1,738,000 tons.
The mill capability utilization rate was 78.1% last week, up from 77.5% a week earlier. Usage is down, however, from the same week of 2022 when the rate was 79.6%.
AISI said that adjusted year-to-date production through June 24 was 42,486,000 tons at a capability utilization rate of 75.8%. This is down 2.9% from the year-ago period when 43,743,000 tons were produced with an overall capability utilization rate of 80.3%.
Production by region for the week ending June 24 is below. (Note: week-over-week changes are in parentheses.)
- Northeast – 140,000 tons (down 2,000 tons)
- Great Lakes – 571,000 tons (up 7,000 tons)
- Midwest – 216,000 tons (up 2,000 tons)
- South – 766,000 tons (up 6,000 tons)
- West – 65,000 tons (up 2,000 tons)

Note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnages provided by approximately 50% of the domestic production capacity combined with the most recent monthly production data for the remainder. 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 based on data supplied by companies representing 75% of US production capacity.
By David Schollaert, david@steelmarketupdate.com
David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Trade Cases
Price on Trade: The foolishness of free trade with controlled economies
It was only a matter of time before a shutdown happened. And, no, we aren’t talking about the federal government’s lapse in appropriations. On Oct. 9, Beijing announced a series of restrictions that will effectively shut down exports of rare earth elements, magnets, and certain downstream products vital to advanced manufacturing.
Trump pulls plug on trade talks with Canada after anti-tariff Reagan ad
US President Donald Trump took to social media late Thursday night to announce he was canceling trade talks with Canada.
Leibowitz: Renewed trade war with China over rare earths
On Oct.10, President Trump announced major increases in tariffs on Chinese goods. The trigger was a new regime of export controls on rare earth metals and products using those elements, including magnets, capital equipment, and catalysts for catalytic converters in cars and trucks.
Industry piles on new Section 232 steel derivative inclusion requests
The Department of Commerce received 97 submissions from producers, manufacturers, and groups seeking Section 232 tariff coverage for steel and aluminum derivative products.
Price on Trade: New EU steel tariffs don’t mean the US should weaken its stance
Any steel imports into the EU that exceed the new, lower quota level would be subject to a 50% tariff, which represents a major increase from the EU’s current 25% out-of-quota tariff. This move would largely align the EU’s steel tariff rate with Canada and the United States.
