Steel Products
AISI Estimated Raw Steel Production & SMU & AISI Capacity Utilization Rates
Written by John Packard
January 2, 2013
The American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) reported their estimated raw steel production data for the week ending December 22, 2012. According to AISI estimates the U.S. steel industry produced 1,840,000 net tons of raw steel last week. This represents an increase of 0.7 percent compared to the week earlier but is 1.2 percent lower than the same week one year ago.
The AISI estimates the capacity utilization rate to be 74.5 percent. SMU estimates the true capacity utilization rate to be 79.1 percent after deducting RG Steel tonnage from the mix. As you can see the RG Steel tonnage can create quite a difference in the capacity utilization rates.
Year to date the AISI estimates total raw steel produced to be 95,400,000 net tons up 2.8 percent compared to the 92,842,000 tons produced through the same period last year. The average capacity utilization rate is estimated to be 75.7 percent so far this year up from 74.4 percent last year.
The North East district produced 183,000 net tons, up 3,000 tons from the previous week.
The Great Lakes district produced 679,000 net tons, up 20,000 tons from the previous week.
The Midwest district produced 261,000 net tons, down 4,000 tons from the previous week.
The Southern district produced 635,000 net tons, up 3,000 tons from the previous week.
The Western district produced 82,000 net tons, down 9,000 tons from the previous week.
Total production was 1,840,000 net tons, up 13,000 tons from the previous week.
We expect the data from last week to become available on Wednesday and will be published in Thursday’s issue of SMU.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products
US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.
US, offshore CRC prices continue to diverge
US cold-rolled (CR) coil prices declined again this week, slipping for a third straight week. Most offshore markets did the opposite, moving higher this week.
S232 lifts EU HR price over US, Asian HR still well behind
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices were flat this week after dropping for four straight weeks. Most offshore markets bucked the trend and gained ground.
SMU Steel Demand Index dips into contraction
SMU’s Steel Demand Index has moved into contraction, according to late April indicators. The slowdown comes in response to growing tariff uncertainty after the index reached a four-year high in late February.
Nucor selects Fives Group for new galv line at CSI
Nucor Corp. has tapped Fives Group as its partner in designing and manufacturing the new continuous galvanizing line being added at its California Steel Industries (CSI) joint venture in Fontana, Calif.