Steel Products Prices North America
December 11, 2018
U.S. Mill Output Dips in December, But Still at 80% Capacity
Written by Brett Linton
Raw steel production by U.S. steelmakers in the week ending Dec. 8 saw a slight dip for the third week in a row, possibly reflecting seasonal weaknesss, but stayed at the 80.0 percent capacity utilization level the mills strive to maintain. Steel production totaled 1,876,000 net tons for the week, down 0.8 percent from the prior week, but up 11.9 percent from the prior year, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute.
U.S. steelmakers have produced 5.9 percent more raw steel so far this year. Adjusted year-to-date production through Dec. 8 totaled 89,404,000 net tons. The average capacity utilization rate for the year has increased by more than 4 percentage points, to 78.2 percent from 74.0 percent in 2017.
