U.S. Raw Steel Production Recorded Weekly Decline

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The weekly update released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) indicates marginal decline in domestic raw steel production by the U.S. mills when compared with the week prior to this. However, the production surged higher over the corresponding week in 2017.

As per AISI data, the raw steel production totaled 1.856 million net tons during the week ending on September 29, 2018, at a capability utilization rate of 79.2%. The weekly production declined marginally by 0.4% when compared with the prior week. The previous week production had totaled 1.863 million net tons at a capability utilization rate of 79.5%. The weekly production represented 8.5% surge over the previous year. It must be noted that the output had totaled only 1.711 million net tons during the year-ago week. The capability utilization rate then was 73.4%, AISI press release noted.

The year-to-date production through September 29, 2018 totaled 70.469 million net tons, higher by 4.5% when compared with the production of 67.425 million net tons during the same period last year. The capability utilization rate recorded significant jump, surging higher from 74.4% to 77.5% over the year.

Among districts, Great Lakes topped with a production of 689,000 net tons, accounting for more than 37% of the total production. The other primary regions along with their output are as follows: North East (228,000 tons), Midwest (187,000 tons), Southern (670,000 tons) and Western (82,000 tons).