Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel production continues to slide

Written by Ethan Bernard

October 7, 2024

Raw steel output from US mills has slipped for a fourth consecutive week, according to the latest figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). This marks a 20-month low for production.

Total US raw steel output was estimated at 1,606,000 short tons (st) in the week ending Oct. 5. This was off 2.4% from 1,646,000 st the previous week.

Production fell 4.6% compared to the same week last year when mill output totaled 1,684,000 st. 

The mill capability utilization rate dropped to 72.3% vs. 74.1% the prior week and 73.8% a year earlier.

Year-to-date production stood at 67,818,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.6%. This was a 1.7% decline from the 69,009,000 st produced in the same time frame last year.

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

  • Northeast – 103,000 st (down 13,000 st)
  • Great Lakes – 564,000 st (down 12,000 st)
  • Midwest – 202,000 st (up 5,000 st)
  • South – 691,000 st (down 19,000 st).
  • West – 46,000 st (down 1,000 st)

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

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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