US raw steel production declined by 0.3pc to 1.75mn nt (1.59mn mt) at a capacity utilization rate of 77.4pc for the week ended March 6, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output declined by 0.3pc from 1.76mn nt, and capacity utilization was up by 1.2pc. In the year till Mar 6, production was short by 7.6pc to 16.11mn nt from 17.43mn nt during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 359,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended March 6, 2021.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 51pc to 157,000nt; Great Lakes output fell by 13pc to 609,000nt; Output in the Midwest fell by 13pc to 179,000nt; the South’s production increased by 5pc to 740,000nt; the West’s output fell by 4pc to 70,000nt.
Compared to the prior week, production declined in all regions except the South, that was up by 4.4pc from 715,000nt and North East by 1pc.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.