Features

AISI: Raw steel production recovered last week
Written by Brett Linton
April 1, 2024
Domestic raw steel production rebounded from the seven-week low seen last week. It now stands at a three-week high, according to the latest release from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
Total steel output in the US was estimated to have been 1,722,000 short tons (st) in the week ending March 30, up 1.1% from the week prior. Raw production is up 0.2% compared to the same week last year, when production totaled 1,718,000 st.
The mill capability utilization rate was 77.5% last week, up from both the week prior (76.7%) and one year ago (76.9%).
Year-to-date production through the end of March was 21,752,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.2%. Annual production is down 2.6% from the same time frame last year, when 22,323,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.7%.
Production by region is shown below, with the week-over-week changes shown in parentheses:
- Northeast – 136,000 st (up 7,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 584,000 st (up 8,000 st)
- Midwest – 190,000 st (up 11,000 st)
- South – 752,000 st (down 5,000 st)
- West – 60,000 st (down 2,000 st)
Editor’s 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 U.S. production capacity.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Features

Trade groups push for steel tariffs, no exceptions
The penalties are expected to be reinstated on Wednesday, March 12.

Final Thoughts
One thing we've learned from our survey here at SMU: When prices are rising, people have a lot to say. You can be assured that with our most recent survey, the comments were coming in fast and furious.

Price on Trade: The tariff carousel becomes the tariff rollercoaster
The administration’s trade rollercoaster is moving at record speeds, running along the rails of innovation and expansion. But it can be confusing and difficult to keep up with. US manufacturers that follow these developments closely could benefit from the ride. Companies that miss new updates, or fail to accurately interpret their duty liability, could be left feeling queasy. Some rollercoasters are not for the faint of heart, and this one is a bit like Space Mountain. We are all riding without much ability to see the next turn or drop.

Ten OCTG importers found guilty of duty evasion
Ten US importers are on the hook to pay two years’ worth of anti-dumping and countervailing duties that US Customs says they had tried to illegally evade.

US steel imports surged in January, reversed in February
Steel imports ended 2024 on a low note, with November trade falling to a one-year low and December seeing a modest 3% recovery. Then as the new year began, import volumes spiked.