Features

AISI: Slight uptick in weekly raw steel production

October 14, 2024

Domestic raw steel mill production slightly recovered last week, according to the latest figures released from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Total raw steel mill output was estimated to have been 1,620,000 short tons (st) in the week ending Oct. 12. This is up 14,000 st, or 0.9%, from the prior week, when production had reached a 20-month low (Figure 1).

Raw production last week was 5.6% lower than the year-to-date weekly average of 1,716,000 st. Production is down by 2.6% compared to the same week one year prior when mill output totaled 1,664,000 st.

The mill capability utilization rate last week was 72.9%. This is up from 72.3% one week prior and up from 72.4% this time last year.

Year-to-date production is up to 69,438,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 76.5%. This is 1.7% less than the same time frame last year, when 70,673,000 st had been produced at a capability utilization rate of 76.4%.

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

Northeast – 108,000 st (up 5,000 st)
Great Lakes – 570,000 st (up 6,000 st)
Midwest – 213,000 st (up 11,000 st)
South – 681,000 st (down 10,000 st).
West – 48,000 st (up 2,000 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.