AISI Estimates Raw Steel Production Rose 0.9% Last Week

For the week ending August 17, 2013, the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. steel industry produced 1,878,000 net tons of raw steel, a 0.9 percent increase over the previous week but a 1.0 decrease over the same week one year ago. The estimated capacity utilization rate is 78.4 percent, up from 77.7 percent last week and up from 76.3 percent last year.

Estimated total raw steel produced for 2013 YTD is reported to be 60,992,000 NT, down 4.5 percent from the 63,845,000 NT produced through the same period in 2012. The average capacity utilization rate for 2013 YTD is estimated to be 77.1 percent, down from 77.8 percent for 2012 YTD. SMU advises our readers that since last year’s comparison is against different tonnage capacity, you are better served to compare tonnage production as done in the graphic provided above.