Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel production falls to four-week low

Written by Brett Linton

April 22, 2024

Domestic raw steel production slipped last week and now stands at a four-week low, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Total US steel output was estimated to have been 1,716,000 short tons (st) in the week ending April 20, down 0.6% compared to the week prior.

Last week’s production was down 3.0% compared to the same week one year ago when production totaled 1,769,000 st. But it nonetheless slightly exceeds the year-to-date weekly average of 1,713,000 st.

The mill capability utilization rate was 77.3% last week, down from both the week prior (77.7%) and this time one year ago (78.6%).

Year-to-date production through April 20 was 26,939,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.5%. Annual production is down 2.5% from the same timeframe last year, when 27,622,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.9%.

Production by region is shown below, with the week-over-week changes shown in parentheses:

  • Northeast: 135,000 st (down 6,000 st)
  • Great Lakes: 576,000 st (up 3,000 st)
  • Midwest: 213,000 st (up 2,000 st)
  • South: 724,000 st (down 10,000 st)
  • West: 68,000 st (down 1,000 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.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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