US raw steel production declined by 1.2pc to 1.6mn nt (1.45mn mt) with a capacity utilization rate of 72.3pc in the week ended December 26, 2020, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2019, output declined by 11.8pc from 1.82mn nt, while capacity utilization fell by 6.2pc. From January to Dec 26, production fell by 17.7pc to 78.7mn nt from 95.7mn nt during the same period in 2019. Total capacity declined by 3.6mn nt on an annual basis for the week ended Dec 26.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the Northeast declined by 38pc to 138,000nt; Great Lakes’ output fell by 19pc to 576,000nt; Production in the Midwest fell by 14.8pc to 170,000nt; the South’s production declined by 2.7pc to 646,000nt; the West’s output fell by 20pc to 70,000nt.
Compared to the prior week, production decreased slightly in all regions across the US.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data. AISI has estimated Q4 2020 production capacity at 29.1mn nt, compared with 30.4mn nt in the same quarter a year ago.