The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported this week that steel production in the United States during the week ended September 27, 2008 decreased by 2.1 percent from the previous week, to 1.986 million net tons.
Year-to-date, however, AISI's data show an increase of 2.2 percent in US steel production as of September 27, 2008, when compared to the same period of the previous year. Year-to-date September 27, 2008, US steel production totaled 81.6 million net tons.
Percent capability utilization of US mills (based on tonnage capability to produce raw steel for a sustained full order book), year-to-date through September 27, was 88.3 percent, compared to 86.1 percent for the same period of the previous year. During the week ended September 27, percent capability utilization was 83.2 percent, compared to 86.5 percent in the corresponding week of the previous year.
AISI's weekly raw steel production report is estimated based on a sampling of steel producers. The "raw steel" described is steel in the first solid state after melting suitable for further processing or sale, including ingots, steel for castings and strand or pressure cast blooms, slabs or other product forms.