Raw Steel Output Falls, South Leads Cuts: AISI

Domestic mills produced 1,627,000 net tons in the week ending Dec. 17, down 0.5%, or 8,000 tons, from the previous week, and down 8% from 1,768,000 tons in the same week last year, per AISI figures.

US mills ran at a capacity utilization rate of 72.9% last week, down from 73.3% the week prior, and down from 80.1% a year ago.

Adjusted year-to-date (ytd) production through Dec. 17 was at 85,991,000 tons, with ytd capacity utilization at 78.1%. That’s 5.5% below 91,041,000 tons ytd in mid-December 2021, when ytd capacity utilization was 81.2%, AISI said.

Production by region for the week ending Dec. 17 is below. (Note: week-over-week change is in parentheses.)

• Northeast, 121,000 tons (down 5,000 tons)

• Great Lakes, 559,000 tons (up 14,000 tons)

• Midwest, 200,000 tons (up 9,000 tons)

• South, 674,000 tons (down 29,000 tons)

• West, 73,000 tons (up, 3,000 tons)

Note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage 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 Michael Cowden, Michael@Steelmarketupdate.com