Steel Products Prices North America

U.S. Raw Steel Production Shows Gains for the Week

Written by Tim Triplett

July 10, 2018

Raw steel production for the week ending July 7 totaled 1,792,000 net tons, a 3.4 percent increase from the same period last year and up 0.6 percent from the previous week. The mill capability utilization rate for the July 7 week averaged 76.4 percent, up from 76.0 percent in the prior week and 74.3 percent in the same week last year, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. Although it has increased, mill utilization still remains short of the industry goal of 80 percent or more. In fact, it still lags this year’s peak of 78.7 percent recorded in March. 

Adjusted year-to-date producton through July 7 totaled 47,922,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 76.3 percent. That’s up 2.9 percent from 46,571,000 tons in the same period last year when the capability utilization was 74.4 percent.

Following is production by district for the week of July 7: North East: 209,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 679,000 net tons; Midwest, 189,000 net tons; South, 639,000 net tons; and West, 76,000 net tons, for a total of 1,792,000.

Note, mill capability for third-quarter 2018 is approximately 30.8 million tons, compared to 30.6 million tons for the same period last year and 30.5 million tons for second-quarter 2018.

The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage from 50 percent of the domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The AISI monthly production report provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75 percent of U.S. production capacity.

Tim Triplett

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