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July U.S. Steel Shipments at Lowest Monthly Level So Far This Year

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that for the month of July 2012, U.S. steel mills shipped 7,910,486 tons, a 1.3% decrease from the 8,016,834 tons shipped in the previous month, June 2012, and a 6.8% increase from the 7,409,450 tons shipped in July 2011. Shipments year-to-date in 2012 are 58,027,590, an 11.2% increase vs. 2011 shipments of 52,189,307 tons for seven months.

Shipments in July were the lowest monthly amount in 2012. The July tonnage of 7,910,486 was 7.1% lower than the peak 2012 monthly shipments of 8,512,825 tons in March. Raw steel production recently experienced its 2012 low in weekly production with production for the week of 8 September 2012 at 73.3%, the first 2012 weekly utilization figure below 74%.

A month-to-month comparison of shipments shows the following changes: hot rolled sheet, up 5%, cold rolled sheet, down 2% and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip, down 5%.


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.