US raw steel production increased by 1.7pc to 1.74mn nt (1.58mn mt) from 1.71mn nt with a capacity utilization rate of 76.7pc for the week ended January 16, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output declined by 8.8pc from 1.91mn nt, and capacity utilization fell by 6.92pc from 82.4pc. Production has declined by 9.7pc to 3.92mn nt in the year till Jan 16 from 4.34mn nt during the same period last year.
Capacity utilization rate was 75.9pc in the year till Jan 16 compared to 82.4pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 101,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Jan 16.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East was down by 26.9pc to 158,000nt; Great Lakes output fell by 9.5pc to 621,000nt; output in the Midwest fell by 7.69pc to 192,000nt; the South’s production declined by 4.79pc to 695,000nt, and the West’s output fell by 18.2pc to 72,000nt.
Compared to last week, the regions’ production increased except for the South, where output declined 0.57pc from 699,000nt to 695,000nt.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.