The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Wednesday that in the month of April 2009, US steel mills shipped 4.042 million net tons (3.667 million metric tons), which represents a 57.0 percent decrease from tonnage shipped in April 2008, and a 2.3 percent decrease from the amount shipped in the previous month, March 2009.
A year-to-year comparison of year-to-date shipments though April shows the following changes within major market classifications: service centers and distributors, down 56.2 percent; automotive, down 55.4 percent; construction and contractors’ products, down 55.0 percent; and oil and gas, down 54.9 percent.
AISI reported last month that US mill shipments in March 2009 totaled 4.138 million nt (3.754 million mt), down 54.8 percent y-o-y, and down 4.2 percent from February.
AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both US and North American steel capacity.