US raw steel production increased by 0.6pc to 1.78mn nt (1.62mn mt) from 1.77mn nt last week with a capacity utilization rate of 78.4pc for the week ended April 24, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020 output rose by 43.6pc from 1.24mn nt and capacity utilization moved up 41.5pc from 55.4pc. Production grew by 2.1pc to 28.48mn nt between Jan 1 and Apr 24 from 27.91mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate stood at 77.2pc year-to-date through Apr 24 compared to 73.7pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity fell by 967,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Apr 24.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in the North East with output up by 30.7pc to 166,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose by 39.8pc to 611,000nt, production in the Midwest was up by 43.2pc to 189,000nt, the South rose 48.5pc to 744,000nt and the West’s output increased 33.96pc to 71,000nt.
Compared to the previous week production increased in all regions except the South where output fell by 0.4pc from 747,000nt and the West where output declined 2.7pc 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.