US raw steel production increased 41pc to 1.84mn nt (1.67mn mt) for the week ended Jul 3 from 1.31mn nt in the same week last year and capacity utilization moved up 42pc to 83pc from 58.3pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week output ticked down 0.4pc from 1.84mn nt and a capacity utilization rate of 82.7pc.
Production moved up 16pc to 46.9mn nt between Jan 1 and Jul 3 from 40.42mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year. The capacity utilization rate was 79pc from Jan 1 to Jul 3 compared to 67.7pc during the same period in 2020.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in the Northeast with output up by 3.6pc to 144,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose 54.3pc to 648,000nt, output in the Midwest surged by 71.2pc to 202,000nt, output in the South rose 45.1pc to 772,000nt and the West’s output increased 28.8pc to 76,000nt.
Compared to last week production increased in all regions except the South with output down by 1.66pc from 785,000nt. Production was up in the Northeast by 5.9pc from 136,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose by 0.5pc from 645,000nt, output in the Midwest increased 3.1pc from 196,000nt and the West’s output rose 4.1pc from 73,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.