US raw steel production rose 44.2pc to 1.83mn nt (1.66mn mt) for the week ended Jun 12 from 1.27mn nt in the same week last year and capacity utilization moved up 45pc to 82.6pc from 56.8pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week output fell 0.3pc from 1.84mn nt and a capacity utilization rate of 82.3pc.
Production increased by 13.2pc to 41.38mn nt between Jan 1 and Jun 12 from 36.56mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 78.5pc from Jan 1 to Jun 12 compared to 67.8pc 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 24pc to 143,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose 53.7pc to 627,000nt, output in the Midwest was up by 49.6pc to 196,000nt, output in the South rose 57.9pc to 794,000nt and the West’s output increased 39.6pc to 74,000nt.
Compared to last week production increased in all regions except the Great Lakes with output down by 2.9pc from 646,000nt and the West with output down by 1.3pc from 75,000nt. Output was up in the Northeast by 2.9pc from 139,000nt, output in the Midwest increased 1.6pc from 193,000nt and the South’s output rose 0.9pc from 787,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.