The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Thursday that in the month of November 2008, US steel mills shipped a total of 5,223,000 net tons (nt), which reflects a 39.9 percent decrease from November 2007 and a 25.8 percent decrease from October 2008.
A year-to-year comparison of year-to-date shipments through November shows the following changes within major market classifications: service centers and distributors, down 2.2 percent; automotive, down 9.1 percent; construction and contractors' products, down 7.5 percent; and oil and gas, up 5.8 percent.