Features

AISI: Raw steel production slips to 7-week low

Written by Brett Linton

January 6, 2025

Raw steel mill production declined last week for the second-consecutive week, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Domestic production is now at the lowest level seen since mid-November. This comes just two weeks after production had recovered to a three-month high.

Total US mill raw production was estimated at 1,635,000 short tons (st) through the week ending Jan. 4. Production declined by 23,000 st or 1.4% from the previous week and was 1.3% lower than the same week last year (Figure 1). While down, production is still higher than the 20-month low of 1,606,000 st recorded back in October.

The mill capability utilization rate last week was 73.6%. This is lower than both the prior week’s rate (74.7%) and the same week one year ago (73.7%).

Weekly production by region is as follows (weekly changes shown in parentheses):

  • Northeast – 124,000 st (down 7,000 st)
  • Great Lakes – 544,000 st (down 19,000 st)
  • Midwest – 220,000 st (down 3,000 st)
  • South – 693,000 st (up 11,000 st).
  • West – 54,000 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.

Read more from Brett Linton

Latest in Features

Price on Trade: The tariff carousel becomes the tariff rollercoaster

The administration’s trade rollercoaster is moving at record speeds, running along the rails of innovation and expansion. But it can be confusing and difficult to keep up with. US manufacturers that follow these developments closely could benefit from the ride. Companies that miss new updates, or fail to accurately interpret their duty liability, could be left feeling queasy. Some rollercoasters are not for the faint of heart, and this one is a bit like Space Mountain. We are all riding without much ability to see the next turn or drop.