US raw steel production rose 44.6pc to 1.84mn nt (1.67mn mt) for the week ended Jun 19 from 1.27mn nt in the same week last year and capacity utilization moved up 46pc to 82.9pc from 56.8pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to last week output ticked up 0.3pc from 1.83mn nt and a capacity utilization rate of 82.6pc.
Production increased by 14.2pc to 43.22mn nt between Jan 1 and Jun 19 from 37.84mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 78.7pc from Jan 1 to Jun 19 compared to 67.8pc during the same period in 2020.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in the Northeast with output up by 36pc to 151,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose 56.2pc to 634,000nt, output in the Midwest was up by 50.4pc to 194,000nt, output in the South rose 48.9pc to 783,000nt and the West’s output increased 48.1pc to 77,000nt.
Compared to last week production increased in all regions except the Midwest with output down by 1pc from 196,000nt and the South with output down by 1.4pc from 794,000nt. Output was up in the Northeast by 5.6pc from 143,000nt, output in the Great Lakes increased 1.1pc from 627,000nt and the West’s output rose 4.1pc from 74,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.