November steel shipments down 11 percent from previous month, but up from last year

The American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington, D.C., reported today that for the month of November 2009, U.S. steel mills shipped 5,424,000 net tons, a 11.0 percent decrease from the 6,097,000 net tons shipped in the previous month, October 2009, and a 3.9 percent increase from the 5,223,000 net tons shipped in November 2008. A month-to-month comparison of shipments shows the following changes: hot rolled sheet, down 12 percent; hot dipped galvanized sheet and strip, down 13 percent; and cold rolled sheet, down 4 percent. 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 23 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s Web site at www.steel.org.