The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Wednesday that for the month of November 2012, US steel mills shipped 7,397,149 net tons, a 0.5 percent decrease from the 7,430,267 net tons shipped in the previous month, October 2012, and a 0.2 percent decrease from the 7,409,450 net tons shipped in November 2011 Shipments year-to-date in 2012 are 88,465,543 net tons, a 5.6 percent increase versus 2011 shipments of 83,779,688 net tons for 11 months.Through November, 2012 shipments would annualize at 97 million net tons.
Shipments in November were 8 percent lower than the 2012 monthly average and slightly lower than November of 2011.Raw steel production in November was 7.5 million net tons--down 3.6 percent compared to the 7.8 million net tons produced 12 months ago.
A comparison of November shipments to the previous month of October shows the following changes: hot rolled sheet shipments were up 4 percent; cold rolled sheet shipments fell 3 percent and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip shipments were down 6 percent.