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May global steel production fell by a normal seasonal 0.2% from April to 4.397 million tonnes per day, but rose 2.6% from the year-ago level. The y-o-y growth was due to…
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May ABI Mixed Messages – Overall ABI Back Above 50; Commercial/Industrial Index Hits 3-Year Low
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The American Institute of Architects’ ABI Index – a leading indicator of non-res construction activity – rebounded to 52.9 in May, after falling to 48.6 in April – the first time…
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Domestic Raw Steel Production, Capacity Utilization Increase
Weekly domestic raw steel production rose 1.0% to 1.870 million tons (mt) for the week ending June 15, 2013, up slightly from 1.851 mt last week, but some 0.6% below the year-ago level of 1.882 mt.
We would caution readers that only half of the AISI reporting companies release their weekly production in “real time” so the other half of this data is estimated using the last month’s reported production & operating rate. What this means is that when production is changing, the weekly data is actually understating the change.
Capacity utilization also rose this week, up from 77.3% last week to 78.1%, and was higher than the year-ago level of 76.2%.
The lowest production since the recession began was 800,000 tons for the week of December 27, 2008, while the highest was 2.005 mt for the week of May 12, 2012. The lowest capacity utilization rate since the recession began was 33.5% for the week of December 27, 2008; the highest was 81.1% on May 12, 2012.
Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence
May Flat-Rolled Inventories Tumble; Months’ Supply Lowest Since March 2011
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While May inventories dropped a bullish -3.6% to the lowest level in two years, weak shipments – up only 0.8% against a normal seasonal uptick of 3.1% – left months’ supply…
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Advance/Decliner Index Continues Nominally Higher, but Well Below Key 50 Level
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Our Advance/Decliner Index rose to a three-month high, but remained at low levels. The uptick was driven by strengthening domestic sheet prices and less weakness in the…
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Iron Ore Price Increases from Eight-Month Low
The spot reference price for 62% Fe iron ore cfr North China rose 2.4% to $113.60 for the week ending June 14, 2013, climbing for the second consecutive week from the recent eight-month low of $110.40 on May 31.
The spot price for iron ore averaged $139.35 in 2Q12, $112.12 in 3Q12, $120.57 in 4Q12, and $148.16 in 1Q13; the full-year 2012 average was $128.30.
The post-recession low was $59.10 on March 27, 2009, while the high was $190.19 on February 17, 2011.
Source: The Steel Index
U.S. Rig Count Ticks Higher, Canadian Rig Count Continues to Climb
The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose to 1,771 for the week ending June 14, 2013, increasing 0.3% from last week’s 1,765, but is still some 10.0% below the year-ago level of 1,971.
The highest weekly rig count in the United States since 1940 was recorded on December 28, 1981, at 4,530; the lowest was recorded on April 23, 1999, at 488.
The number of rigs in Canada increased for the fifth consecutive week, jumping 15.8% from 152 to 176 this week. Despite the increase, the count is still 29.0% below the year-ago level of 248.
The highest rig count for Canada was 727 on February 3, 2006; the lowest was 29, recorded on April 24, 1992.
Source: Baker Hughes Inc.
AK Steel Leads with Second Sheet Hike
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AK Steel announced a leading $40/ton sheet hike this afternoon, the second increase in three weeks. We suspect AK’s move is…
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Second Sheet Price Increase Increasingly Likely
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We suspect we’ll see a second price increase announced, with about half of the original $50/ton May 22 sheet price hike sticking at the three-week mark. This is the first time…
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Advance/Decliner Index Remains Weak
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Our Advance/Decliner Index rose to a seven-week high as domestic sheet prices continued to climb and Chinese prices strengthened on the back of…
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