US crude steel production slipped 0.5pc to 1.919mn nt (1.741mt) while maintaining a strong capacity utilization rate of 82.3pc for the week-ended Jan 25, 2020, according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.
Production of the metal increased 2.6pc compared to the same week a year ago though the utilization rate was also lower at 80.4pc during that period.
The adjusted year-to-date production of 6.855mn nt at 82.3pc utilization was up 2.6pc compared to the same period last year. The year-to-date total capacity for the first four weeks of the year indicated only a 0.2pc variance at 8.329mn nt compared to the cumulative of the same four weeks a year ago.
Compared to the same week last year, the North East increased production by 20pc to 233,000nt (12pc of total), Great Lakes decreased by 6pc to 681,000nt (35pc), Midwest increased 2pc to 211,000nt (11pc), South increased 2pc to 692,000nt (36pc), and West increased by 15pc to 85,000nt (4pc).
Regional capacity in the Great Lakes has declined year-on-year with the idling of facilities while the South has averaged 715,000nt in the past four weeks to achieve a strong 37pc contribution to the total US crude steel production.