US crude steel output increased by 26.6pc to 1.869mn nt (1.7mn mt) for the week ended Aug 14 from 1.48mn nt in the same week last year while capacity utilization rose to 84.7pc from 65.9pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week, output declined by 0.2pc from 1.872mn nt at a capacity utilization rate of 84.8pc.
Production increased by 19.5pc to 58.29mn nt between Jan 1 and Aug 14 from 48.77mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year. The capacity utilization rate was 80.3pc against 66.6pc during this annual timeframe.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in all regions with output increasing in the Northeast by 18pc to 157,000nt, in the Great Lakes by 37pc to 638,000nt, in Midwest by 27pc to 202,000nt, in South by 46pc to 799,000nt and in the West by 3pc to 73,000nt.
Compared to last week, production declined in all regions except the Midwest where it rose by 3.1pc from 196,000nt. Raw steel output declined in the North East by 0.6pc from 158,000nt, in the Great Lakes by 0.5pc from 641,000nt, in the South by 0.4pc from 802,000nt and in the West by 2.7pc from 75,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.