Washington, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that for the month of November 2008, U.S. steel mills shipped 5,223,000 net tons, a 39.9 percent decrease from the 8,683,000 net tons shipped in November 2007 and a 25.8 percent decrease from the 7,041,000 net tons shipped in the previous month, October 2008.

A year-to-year comparison of year-to-date shipments shows the following changes within major market classifications: service centers and distributors, down 2.2 percent; automotive, down 9.1 percent; construction and contractors’ products, down 7.5 percent; and oil and gas, up 5.8 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 25 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.

Source: American Iron and Steel Institute, January 15, 2009