U.S. Steel Sector’s Capacity Utilization Hits 81.6%; Steel Price Slide Continues

The U.S. steel sector notched a capacity utilization rate of 81.6% for the week ending Nov. 2, according to a recent American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) report, as U.S. steel prices continue to plunge.
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U.S. steel production reached 1.89 million tons for the week ending Nov. 2, marking a 0.1% year-over-year increase over the week ending Nov. 2, 2018 (when production reached 1.88 million tons at a capacity utilization rate of 80.5%).
Meanwhile, production during the week increased 1.2% compared with the previous week ending Oct. 26, 2019, when production totaled 1.87 million tons at a rate of 80.7%.
For the year to date, production reached 81.60 million tons at a capacity utilization rate of 80.3%. Production during the period was up 2.5% compared with the 79.58 million tons produced during the same period in 2018 (when the capacity utilization rate checked in at 77.5%).
By region, production totals checked in at:

  • Northeast: 190,000 tons
  • Great Lakes: 676,000 tons
  • Midwest: 181,000 tons
  • Southern: 767,000 tons
  • Western: 74,000 tons

Steel’s Slide Continues

On the price side, October proved to be another downward month for U.S. steel prices.
U.S. hot-rolled coil was down to $483/st as of the start of the month — nearing MetalMiner’s short-term support level. The price declined 12.97% month over month.
U.S. cold-rolled coil fell to $684/st, down 7.69% month over month. U.S. hot-dip galvanized is down 7.21% month over month, having fallen to $746/st.
The plate price dropped 7.07% to $684/st.
Steelmakers continue to grapple with the reality of falling prices, now with over 18 months gone by since the Trump administration slapped a 25% tariff on imported steel.
U.S. Steel, for example, reported an adjusted net loss of $35 million in its third-quarter earnings announcement. Meanwhile, in 3Q 2018, the steelmaker reported adjusted net earnings of $321 million.
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For the first nine months of the year, U.S. Steel reported adjusted net earnings of $124 million, down 80.6% from the $640 million reported during the first nine months of 2018.

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