US raw steel production increased by 0.3pc to 1.76mn nt (1.6mn mt) from last week with a capacity utilization rate of 77.7pc for the week ended March 13, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output increased by 1.1pc from 1.74mn nt and capacity utilization rose by 3.2pc from 75.3pc. Production has declined by 6.8pc to 17.87mn nt between Jan 1 and Mar 13 from 19.18mn nt during the same year-to-date-period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 76.7pc year-to-date through Mar 13 compared to 79.6pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 788,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Mar 13.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East was down by 31.6pc at 154,000nt; Great Lakes output fell by 9pc to 627,000nt; and output in the Midwest dropped by 9.9pc to 182,000nt.
Regional production increases occurred in the South, up by 3.96pc to 735,000nt and the West where output rose by 14.5pc to 63,000nt, compared to the same week a year ago.
Compared to last week, production fell in the North East, South, and West, while Great Lakes was up 2.96pc from 609,000nt and Midwest was up 1.68pc from 179,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.