Features

AISI: Raw steel production ticked higher last week

July 22, 2024

Domestic raw steel production rose to a seven-week high last week, according to the latest release by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Raw output from US steel mills now stands at the highest recorded weekly rate since the first week of June.

Total steel mill output was estimated to have been 1,739,000 short tons (st) in the week ending July 20. This is up 4,000 st, or 0.2%, from the week prior. Raw production last week was 1.4% higher than the year-to-date weekly average of 1,716,000 st. Production is up 3.0% vs. the same week one year ago when production totaled 1,689,000 st.

The mill capability utilization rate was 78.3% last week. This rate is higher than the week prior (78.1%) and also higher than this time last year (74.3%).

Year-to-date production is up to 49,043,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.5%. This is 2.3% less than the same time frame last year, when 50,191,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.3%.

Weekly production by region is shown below, with the weekly changes noted in parentheses:

Northeast – 128,000 st (down 4,000 st)
Great Lakes – 577,000 st (down 11,000 st)
Midwest – 224,000 st (up 13,000 st)
South – 748,000 st (up 11,000 st)
West – 62,000 st (down 5,000 st)

Editor’s note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated and should be used primarily to assess production trends. The monthly AISI “AIS 7” report is available by subscription and provides a more detailed summary of domestic steel production.

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.