US raw steel production increased by 0.4pc to 1.76mn nt (1.6mn mt) from 1.75mn nt last week with a capacity utilization rate of 77.6pc for the week ended March 27, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output rose by 1.1pc from 1.74mn nt and capacity utilization moved up by 3.1pc from 75.3pc. Production fell by 5.6pc to 21.39mn nt between Jan 1 and Mar 27 from 22.66mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 76.8pc year-to-date through Mar 27 compared to 79.6pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 618,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Mar 27.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 17.8pc to 166,000nt.
Regional production increases occurred in Great Lakes with output up by 1.5pc to 617,000nt, production in the Midwest surged by 22pc to 189,000nt; in the South output rose by 10.39pc to 712,000nt and the West’s production increased by 26.7pc to 76,000nt, compared to the same week a year ago.
Compared to last week, production fell by 0.4pc in the Great Lakes and decreased by 1.66pc in the South while the North East was up 1.2pc from 164,000nt, the Midwest rose 2.7pc from 184,000nt and the West increased its production by 24.6pc from 61,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.