US crude steel production decreased by 0.8pc to 1.899mn nt(1.723mn mt) in the week ending February 8, 2020 compared to the prior week according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data. Crude steel production declined by 0.9pc from the same week a year ago, while capability utilization rate remained at 81.4pc, its second straight week below the 82pc mark.
Adjusted year-to-date the data indicated production was up 1.8pc, compared to the same period in 2019, at 10.668mn nt (9.681mn mt) and a capability utilization rate of 82.1pc against 81.3pc last year. However, the total year-to-date capacity from the reported 50pc of domestic producers and monthly data was down by 128,000nt at 12.994mn mt compared to a year ago.
According to AISI data, the industry’s production capacity in Q1 2020 is estimated at around 30.3mn nt compared to 29.9mn nt during the same period last year.
Broken down by districts, production during February 8 encountered only a 1-2pc variance compared to the same week a year ago with the North East producing 0.231mn nt (12pc), Great Lakes 0.689mn nt (36pc), Midwest 0.201mn nt (11pc), South 0.703mn nt (37pc),and West 0.075mn nt (4pc). Great Lakes and South represent 73pc of the total US crude steel production.