Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-16
Steel Supply
Shows
Improvement
Some Products
Continue as Tight
as Ever. However

/ % GVStt t0WCvCt
CLEVELAND, O., Nov. 16.-
While the situation in some steel
products is as tight as ever, the
overall position in steel appears
somewhat easier. especially in
shapes, plates, sheets and smaller
sizes of bars. This does not mean
that tonnage is easily available
but that il can be obtained with
less difficulty, says Steel.
Better inventory balance, in
steel supply and munitions, seems
the major factor. Inventory con-
trolls have prevented unduly large
accumulation of steel and those
previously made are being re-
duced. Some programs are suffi-
|ciently advanced to require some
limitation. including tanks. trucks
and other motor vehicles for mill
tary use. Aviation and ship work
are not so affected.
DOWNWARD RERATING
Recent rerating downward is a
reflection of shift of emphasis and
has the direct effect of giving top
ratings more meaning and sup
ports the idea that the steel situ-
alton is easier for those who have
first need for tonnage. The princi-
pal shortage is seen in alloy steels,
with alloy bar deliveries extended
to 35 weeks or longer and large
carbon bar fats and rounds avail
able no sooner than second quar-
ter on new orders, in the case of
some producers, and scant atten-
Ition given priorities under AA-2.
In spite of curtailed semifinished
exports AA-2 is necessary. Some
accumulation of semifinished has
resulted from concentration of
shipping space in military move
ments, this being another factor
in the easier steel position.
Some confusion has arisen from
discontinuance of end-use symbols
required under the discarded AL
locations Classification System,
lpriofitIes regulation No. 10. Buy
ers still are required to furnish
data as to ultimate use of steel
"copper" and aluminium and this is
being overlooked frequently by
buyers, requiring revision of their
requests before they can be con
sidered. Applications for alloy
steel require more detailed data
than those for carbon steel.
| With steel producers exerting
every effort to keep all equipment
possible in action, changes in
operations are slight from week to
week, the national rate being
maintained close to capacity. Last
week slight upwards move in
creased it II point to SO per cent
of capacity.
SCRAP NO FACTOR
Scrap has ceased to be factor
and only necessity for repairing
hard-driven open hearths causes
delay. Wheeling moved up 2 points
to SO per cent, Cincinnati 3 points
to 81, Detroit 5 points to IS, st.
Louis / point to "a per cent. Chi
cago dropped point to 1919 per
cent and Cleveland Al points to
90. Rates were unchanged at
Pittsburgh, SO per cent; eastern
Pennsylvania, So: Buffalo. 901a
Youngstown, 81: Birmingham, 80;
New England, 80.
That the steel industry Is ex-
tending itself in the war effort is
evidenced by the American Iron
and Steel Institutes report of steel
ingot and castings production for
October, 1854 1854 net tons. an all
time high, representing 1901 per
cent of rated capacity. This is
1888 tons greater than the
previous record made in March Z
per cent more than September
output and nearly $4,000 tons
above tonnage made in October,
1941. Incidentally October output
is about 3S5 900 tons greater than
the entire annual rated capacity
of Japan.