August U.S. Steel Shipments Up 5% from July
10/22/2012 - The American Iron and Steel Institute reported that for the month of August 2012, U.S. steel mills shipped 8,377,162 tons, a 5.9% increase from the 7,910,486 tons shipped in the previous month, July 2012, and a 0.9% increase from the 8,304,638 tons shipped in August 2011.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that for the month of August 2012, U.S. steel mills shipped 8,377,162 tons, a 5.9% increase from the 7,910,486 tons shipped in the previous month, July 2012, and a 0.9% increase from the 8,304,638 tons shipped in August 2011. Shipments year-to-date in 2012 are 66,404,752, an 9.8% increase vs. 2011 shipments of 60,493,945 for eight months. 2012 shipments for August would annualize at 98 million tons.
Shipments in August were the highest of the three most recent shipment reports and just 0.7% below the 8,436,831 tons shipped in May. However, September and October figures indicate production has declined since August. Raw Steel Capacity Utilization in September was 72.8%, down 3.5% from August. Weekly Raw Steel Production Utilization for the weeks of October 7 and 13, respectively, were 71.1 and 70.3%, a 10% drop from the peak 2012 monthly utilization of 80.9 in April.
A comparison of August shipments to the previous month of July shows the following changes: hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip, up 5%, hot rolled sheet, up 5% and cold rolled sheet, down 1%.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 124 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent over three quarters of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
