US raw steel production climbed by 3.1pc to 1.65mn nt (1.5mn mt) with a capacity utilization rate of 74.6pc for the week ended January 2, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output declined by 10.4pc from 1.84mn nt, and capacity utilization fell by 5.5pc.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 46pc to 159,000nt; Great Lakes’ output fell by 12.6pc to 591,000nt; output in the Midwest fell by 14.8pc to 182,000nt; the South’s production declined by 8.5pc to 643,000nt; the West’s output fell by 24pc to 75,000nt.
Compared to the prior week, production increased by about 5-7pc in all regions barring the South where output fell by 0.4pc to 643,000nt.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.