Steel Products Prices North America

October Raw Steel Production at Four-Year High
Written by Brett Linton
December 11, 2018
Total raw steel production for the month of October was 8,330,505 net tons, the highest production level since August 2014 when 8,546,303 tons were produced. Broken down by production method, 5,724,209 tons were produced by electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and 2,606,296 tons were produced by blast furnaces. October production was 333,505 tons or 4.2 percent higher than September, and 828,212 tons or 11.0 percent higher than the same month last year, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. AISI’s monthly estimates are different than the weekly estimates we report; the monthly estimates are based on over 75 percent of the domestic mills reporting versus only 50 percent reporting for the weekly estimates.
The chart below shows total monthly steel production (blue) broken down by electric arc furnace production (green) and blast furnace production (red).
The mill capacity utilization rate for October 2018 was 80.2 percent, up from 79.6 percent in September, and up from 73.2 percent one year ago. This is also the highest production rate since August 2014, when 8,546,303 tons were produced at a capacity utilization rate of 80.2 percent.
SMU Note: Interactive versions of the raw steel production graphics above can be seen in the Analysis section of our website here. If you need assistance logging in to or navigating the website, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate steady ahead of Independence Day
Sheet and plate prices were little changed in the shortened week ahead of Independence Day, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.

Nucor maintains plate prices, opens August order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat again with the opening of its August order book.

Nucor CSP remains level at $900/ton
Nucor maintained its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil this week, following two consecutive increases.

Cliffs raises prices, seeks $950/ton for July spot HR
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to increase prices for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $950 per short ton (st) with the opening of its July spot order book. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said the price hike was effective immediately in a letter to customers dated Monday.

HRC vs. prime scrap spread widens in June
The price spread between HRC and prime scrap widened in June.