US crude steel output increased by 27.2pc to 1.88mn nt (1.7mn mt) for the week ended Aug 21 from 1.48mn nt in the same week last year while capacity utilization moved up to 85pc from 65.9pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week, output ticked up by 0.4pc from 1.87mn nt and a capacity utilization rate of 84.7pc.
Production increased by 19.8pc to 60.17mn nt between Jan 1 and Aug 21 from 50.24mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year. The capacity utilization rate was 80.4pc against 66.6pc in this timeframe.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in all regions with output rising in the Northeast by 11.2pc to 149,000nt, in the Great Lakes by 32pc to 636,000nt, the Midwest by 28pc to 201,000nt, the South by 43.7pc to 815,000nt and the West by 5.6pc to 76,000nt.
Compared to last week, production dipped in all regions except the South where output increased by 2pc from 799,000nt and the West’s where production rose by 4pc from 73,000nt. Production was down in the Northeast by 5.1pc from 157,000nt, decreased in the Great Lakes by 0.3pc from 638,000nt, and dropped in the Midwest by 0.5pc from 202,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.