US raw steel production declined by 1.2pc to 1.70mn nt (1.54mn mt) at a capacity utilization rate of 75.2pc for the week ended February 6, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output declined by 7.5pc from 1.84mn nt, and capacity utilization fell by 6.3pc. In the year till Feb 6, production was short by 9.3pc to 9.06mn nt from 10mn nt during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 125,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended February 6, 2021.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 57pc to 147,000nt and Great Lakes’ output fell by 15pc to 599,000nt. Output in the Midwest fell by 10pc to 182,000nt, while the South’s production increased by 0.7pc to 708,000nt. The West’s output fell by 8.6pc to 69,000nt. Production declined in all regions by 2,000-9,000nt compared to the prior week.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.