US raw steel production increased by 0.3pc to 1.77mn nt (1.60mn mt) at a capacity utilization rate of 77.9pc for the week ended April 3, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output rose by 15.7pc from 1.53mn nt, and capacity utilization inclined by 11.2pc. In the year till Apr 3, production was short by 4.2pc to 23.2mn nt from 24.1mn nt during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 520,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended April 3, 2021.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 2.4pc to 159,000nt; Great Lakes’ output rose by 11pc to 610,000nt; Output in the Midwest jumped by 32pc to 184,000nt; the South’s production increased by 23pc to 742,000nt; the West’s output increased by 42pc to 71,000nt.
Compared to the prior week, production declined in all regions except the South, where it was up by 4.2pc or 30,000nt, offsetting the lost output in the rest of the US.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.