U.S. Raw Steel Output Slumped

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The raw steel production statistics published by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) for the week ended December 14, 2019 suggests marginal decline in output, compared with the same period in the previous year. However, over the prior week, the production recorded marginal increase.

According to AISI weekly data, the U.S. raw steel production totalled 1.844 million net tons during the week ending on December 14, 2019. The capability utilization rate fell below 80% to touch 79.7%. The production in the week ended December 14, 2018 was 1.861 million net tons at a capability utilization rate of 79.4%. The mill capability utilization rate reported marginal increase over the previous year.

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The production edged higher marginally by 1.3% from the prior week. AISI noted that the prior week production had totalled 1.821 million net tons. Also, the U.S. domestic mills reported lower capability utilization level of 78.7% during the week ended December 7, 2019.

Meantime, the year-to-date production until December 14, 2019 totalled 92.584 million net tons. This was up by 1.8% from the production of 90.916 million net tons during the corresponding period last year. The capability utilization rate too jumped higher from 78.2% to 79.7%.

Great Lakes region led the production with an output of 681,000 net tons, followed by Southern region with 669,000 net tons. The production by the other regions was as follows: North East (212,000 net tons), Midwest (192,000 net tons), Western (90,000 net tons).