US raw steel production decreased by 0.5pc to 1.75mn nt (1.59mn mt) in the week ended March 20, 2021, from 1.76mn nt in the prior week with a capacity utilization rate of 77.3pc according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output increased by 0.7pc from 1.74mn nt and capacity utilization rose by 2.7pc from 75.3pc. Production dropped by 6.2pc to 19.63mn nt between Jan 1 and Mar 20 from 20.92mn nt during the same period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 76.8pc between Jan 1 and Mar 20 compared to 79.6pc during the same timeframe in 2020. Total capacity declined by 723,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Mar 20.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 23.4pc to 164,000nt; Great Lakes’ output fell by 8.4pc to 620,000nt, and output in the Midwest was flat at 184,000nt.
Regional production increases occurred in the South, up by 0.8pc to 724,000nt while the West’s output rose by 3.4pc to 61,000nt, compared to the same week a year ago.
Compared to last week production fell in the Great Lakes, South, and West but increased in North East by 6.5pc from 154,000nt and in the Midwest by 1.1pc from 182,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.