Steel Products Prices North America
Weekly Raw Steel Production Rates Slipping Below 1.7 Million Tons
Written by John Packard
September 7, 2016
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) released their weekly assessment of the domestic steel mills raw steel production for the week ending September 3, 2016. The AISI reported production as being 1,656,000 net tons with a capacity utilization rate of 70.8 percent. The production rate (based on approximately 50 percent of the industry providing production data) was higher than the previous week by 14,000 tons but was down 3.1 percent compared to the same week one year ago.
The AISI press release reported: “Adjusted year-to-date production through September 3, 2016 was 60,919,000 net tons, at a capability utilization rate of 72.4 percent. That is down 1.2 percent from the 61,688,000 net tons during the same period last year, when the capability utilization rate was 72.3 percent.
“Broken down by districts, here’s production for the week ending September 3, 2016 in thousands of net tons: North East: 205; Great Lakes: 648; Midwest: 161; Southern: 570 and Western: 72 for a total of 1656.”
The total capacity for the 3rd Quarter 2016 is approximately 30.7 million tons according to the AISI. During the 3rd Quarter 2015 raw steel production capacity was 31.4 million tons. During the 2nd Quarter 2016 the number was 30.4 million tons.
The weekly raw steel production numbers are based on tonnage reported by approximately 50 percent of the domestic steel mills. According to AISI their weekly report should only be used to “assess production trends” and readers should not take the numbers as gospel truth. The monthly raw steel production numbers are based on tonnages being reported by approximately 75 percent of the steel mills and is a little more reliable for that reason.
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing the weekly raw steel production history. To use the graphs interactive capabilities, you must view it on our website. You can do this by clicking here. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Nucor slows HRC price climb with $5/ton increase
After eight weeks of double-digit price increases on hot-rolled (HR) coil, Nucor slowed the price rise this week with an increase of $5 per short ton.
Domestic CRC prices surge ahead of imports
The price spread between stateside-produced CR and imports reached its widest margin in over a year.
Evraz raises plate prices $160/ton
Evraz North America (NA) has followed Nucor and SSAB with a plate price increase of its own: up $160 per short ton (st). The increase was effective immediately for all new orders of carbon, high-strength low-alloy, and normalized and quenched-and-tempered plate products, as well as for hot-rolled coil, the steelmaker said in a letter to […]
Nucor lifts HR coil to $820/ton
Nucor has increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil for a fourth consecutive week.
Nucor pushes HR spot price to $790/ton
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $790 per short ton (st) on Monday, Feb. 10 – a $15/st bump vs. last week. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company has raised its weekly CSP by $40/st over the past three weeks after maintaining tags at $750/st since Nov. 12, according to SMU’s […]