US crude steel production totaled 1.534mn nt with a capability utilization rate of 68.5pc during the week ended April 4, 2020, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Production declined by 8.1pc from the week prior, and decreased by 18.9pc compared to the same week in 2019. The capability utilization was 71.6pc last week and further dipped to 68.5pc this week—a 3.1pc decline. There has not been a capability utilization rate below 70pc in the US steel industry since 2016.
According to the AISI data, adjusted year-to-date production was 25.067mn nt at a utilization rate of 79.4pc, down by 2.7pc from 25.773mn nt during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 81.5pc.
By district, and compared to the previous week, the Northeast declined by 4pc to 194,000nt; the Great Lakes decreased by 10pc to 549,000nt; the Midwest declined by 10pc to 139,000nt; the South decreased by 7pc to 602,000nt; and the West dropped by 17pc to 50,000nt. The South comprised 39pc of total US crude steel production, followed by the Great Lakes at 36pc.
Compared to the same week in 2019, the region with the highest percentage decline was the Midwest with a 29pc drop, followed by the Great Lakes declining by 22pc, and the South falling by 19pc. The Northeast decreased by 5pc during the week ending April 4, 2020 compared to the same week a year ago. The West declined by 34pc, but it comprised only 3pc of total US crude steel output.
The crude steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated by AISI. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage, 50pc of which is provided by domestic producers, and the remainder coming from monthly production data.