US raw steel production increased by 37.7pc to 1.86mn nt (1.69mn mt) for the week ended Jul 17 from 1.35mn nt in the same week last year and capacity utilization moved up 39.5pc to 84.1pc from 60.3pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week, output ticked up by 0.4pc from 1.85mn nt and a capacity utilization rate of 83.6pc.
Production increased by 17.8pc to 50.79mn nt between Jan 1 and Jul 17 from 43.1mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year. The capacity utilization rate was 79.6pc against 66.7pc during the same timeframe under comparison.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in all regions with output in the Northeast up by 2.1pc to 146,000nt, the Great Lakes rising by 40.4pc to 632,000nt, the Midwest increasing by 47.4pc to 199,000nt, South climbing by 54.1pc to 803,000nt and the West up by 38.6pc to 79,000nt.
Compared to last week, production rose in all regions except the Great Lakes where output fell by 1.56pc from 642,000nt and the South where production inched down by 0.12pc from 804,000nt. Production was up in the Northeast by 5pc from 139,000nt, the Midwest by 4.2pc from 191,000nt, and the West by 3.95pc from 76,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.