Posts Tagged: ‘steel prices’

Domestic Raw Steel Production, Capacity Utilization Fall to Fifteen-Week Lows

April 8, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

Weekly domestic raw steel production decreased 3.2% from 1.820 million tons (mt) last week to 1.762 mt for the week ending April 5, 2014, falling to the lowest rate since December 21, 2013.  Production is also some 5.2% below the year-ago level of 1.858 mt.

Capacity utilization decreased from 75.7% last week to 73.3% this week, which is also a fifteen-week low, and is below the year-ago level of 77.6%.

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.

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.

Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence

U.S. Rig Count Climbs to Seventeen-Month High, Canadian Rig Count Falls to Nine-Month Low

April 7, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.5% to 1,818 for the week ending April 4, 2014, up from 1,809 last week and reaching the highest count since October 26, 2012.  The count is some 4.6% above the year-ago level of 1,738.

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 fell to a nine-month low of 235 this week, dropping 21.1% from 298 last week and decreasing 88.3% over the now-six-week downward spiral.  Despite the fall, the count is some 14.1% above the year-ago level of 206.

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.

U.S. Rig Count Decreases Slightly, Canadian Rig Count Falls Further to Eleven-Week Low

March 25, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States decreased 0.3% from last week’s sixteen-month high of 1,809 to 1,803 for the week ending March 21, 2014.  The count is still some 3.3% above the year-ago level of 1,746.

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 fell for the fourth consecutive week, dropping 25.5% from 522 last week to 389 this week, which is an eleven-week low.  Despite the fall, the count is some 15.4% above the year-ago level of 337.

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.

Domestic Raw Steel Production, Capacity Utilization Jump to Eight-Month Highs

March 25, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

Weekly domestic raw steel production jumped to an almost eight-month high for the week ending March 22, 2014, increasing 3.1% from 1.828 million tons (mt) last week to 1.885 mt.  Production is also some 4.2% above the year-ago level of 1.809 mt.

Capacity utilization rose from 76.0% last week to 78.4% this week, which is also an eight-month high, and is above the year-ago level of 75.5%.

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.

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.

Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence

Domestic Raw Steel Production, Capacity Utilization Decrease to Six-Week Lows

March 18, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

Weekly domestic raw steel production fell 0.7% from 1.840 million tons (mt) last week to a six-week low of 1.828 mt for the week ending March 15, 2014.  Despite the decline, production is some 2.4% above the year-ago level of 1.785 mt.

Capacity utilization decreased from 76.5% last week to 76.0% this week, which is also a six-week low, but is above the year-ago level of 74.5%.

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.

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.

Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence

U.S. Rig Count Jumps to Sixteen-Month High, Canadian Rig Count Drops to Two-Month Low

March 17, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.9 % from 1,792 last week to 1,809 for the week ending March 14, 2014, reaching the highest count since November 30, 2012.  The count is some 1.9% above the year-ago level of 1,776.

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 decreased for the third consecutive week, down 11.1% from 587 last week to 522 this week, dropping to a two-month low.  Despite the fall, the count is some 16.7% above the year-ago level of 503.

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.

Domestic Raw Steel Production Decreases from Five-Month High

March 11, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

Weekly domestic raw steel production fell 1.1% from last week’s five-month high of 1.861 million tons (mt) to 1.840 mt for the week ending March 8, 2014.  Production is some 0.7% above the year-ago level of 1.828 mt.

Capacity utilization also decreased from 77.4% last week to 76.5% this week.  The rate is just slightly above the year-ago level of 76.3%.

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.

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.

Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence

U.S. Rig Count Jumps to Fifteen-Month High, Canadian Rig Count Decreases Again

March 10, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 1.3 % from 1,769 last week to 1,792 for the week ending March 7, 2014, reaching the highest count since December 14, 2012.  The count is some 2.3% above the year-ago level of 1,752.

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 decreased 6.2% from 626 last week to 587 this week, falling for a second time after an eight-week climb.  Despite the fall, the count is some 1.2% above the year-ago level of 580.

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.

Domestic Raw Steel Production Jumps to Five-Month High, Capacity Utilization to Four-Month High

March 4, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

Weekly domestic raw steel production rebounded 1.6% from last week’s 1.831 million tons (mt) to 1.861 mt for the week ending March 1, 2014, reaching the highest rate since October 5, 2013.  Production is some 0.2% above the year-ago level of 1.857 mt.

Capacity utilization also increased from 76.3% last week to 77.4% this week, which is an almost four-month high.  The rate is just slightly below the year-ago level of 77.5%.

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.

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.

Source: AISI and Steel Market Intelligence

U.S. Rig Count Decreases, Canadian Rig Count Halts Eight-Week Climb

February 28, 2014 Posted by Steel Market Intelligence

The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States decreased 0.1% from 1,771 last week to 1,769 for the week ending February 28, 2014.  The count is some 0.7% above the year-ago level of 1,757.

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 decreased 0.1% from 632 last week to 626 this week, halting an eight-week, 140.3% increase that started at the beginning of the year.  The count is some 4.4% below the year-ago level of 655.

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.