Steel mill shipments up almost 15% at half

By Staff -- Purchasing, 9/7/2000

U.S. steel mills shipped 57,893,000 net tons during the first half of this year, a 14.7% increase from 50,453,000 tons in the corresponding period last year. American Iron and Steel Institute data of a year-to-year comparison of shipments within major market classifications shows: oil and gas, up 83.4%; service centers and distributors, up 25.1%; machinery, industrial equipment and tools, up 12.1%; construction and contractors' products, up 10.7%; automotive, up 6.6%; containers, packaging and shipping materials, up 0.8%; appliances, utensils and cutlery, down 4.8%; and electrical equipment, down 4.9%.