Steel Product Producers

AISI: Raw steel production moves higher

Written by David Schollaert

August 19, 2024

Domestic steel mill output rose last week for the second consecutive week, according to the latest release by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Total raw steel mill production was estimated at 1,754,000 short tons (st) in the week ending Aug. 17. That’s up 19,000 st, or 1.1%, from the week prior. It’s also the highest weekly output year to date.

Raw steel production is in addition up 0.7% from the same week one year ago, when output totaled 1,742,000 st.

The mill capability utilization rate for last week was 79%. That’s higher than the week prior (78.1%) and better than this time last year (76.6%). It the best utilization rate since Feb. 18, 2023, according to AISI data.

Year-to-date production stands at 55,910,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.6%. This is down 2% vs. the same year-ago period, when 57,076,000 st were produced at a capability utilization rate of 77.2%.

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

  • Northeast – 124,000 st (down 3,000 st)
  • Great Lakes – 588,000 st (up 8,000 st)
  • Midwest – 218,000 st (up 11,000 st)
  • South – 763,000 st (up 11,000 st)
  • West – 68,000 st (down 8,000 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.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. Based in CRU’s Pittsburgh office, David can be reached at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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