US raw steel production increased by 1.2pc to 1.58mn nt (1.44mn mt) with a capacity utilization rate of 71.4pc for the week ended December 5, 2020, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2019, output declined by 13.1pc from 1.82mn nt, and capacity utilization fell by 7.2pc. Production has declined by 18.3pc to 73.7mn nt between January and Dec 5 from 90.2mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year. Total capacity declined by 3mn nt on an annual basis for the week ended Dec 5.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 56.2pc to 144,000nt; Great Lakes output fell by 17.6pc to 555,000nt; output in the Midwest fell by 14.2pc to 169,000nt; the South’s production declined by 3.9pc to 641,000nt, and the West’s output fell by 20pc to 70,000nt.
Compared to last week, the regions’ production increased, save for the Southern region, where output declined by 2pc to 641,000nt from 655,000nt.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.