American steel output racing shipyard expansion

Did American naval construction in 1942 and 1943 begin demanding more steel than the country could produce?

New and enlarged yards repeatedly came into operation faster than steel production could expand to supply them.

Steel production and shipbuilding capacity were expanding at the same time, particularly on the American West Coast. New yards could open before the steel works had increased their output sufficiently. When steel production caught up, another new or enlarged yard could create a fresh gap. Expanding steel production was the slower task in this comparison. Output therefore had to grow in anticipation of the next yard opening, or it would repeatedly fall behind demand.