US raw steel production decreased by 1.2pc to 1.72mn nt (1.56mn mt) for the week ended January 23, 2021, from 1.74mn nt in the prior week, with a capacity utilization rate of 75.7pc, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output declined by 9.9pc from 1.91mn nt, and capacity utilization fell by 8.1pc from 82.4pc. Production has declined by 9.7pc to 5.64mn nt between Jan 1 and Jan 23 from 6.24mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 75.8pc from Jan1-23 compared to 82.4pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity declined by 142,000nt on an annual basis for the week ended Jan 23.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production in the North East declined by 34pc to 153,000nt; Great Lakes output fell by 9.8pc to 614,000nt; output in the Midwest decreased by 10pc to 189,000nt; the South’s production dropped by 2.4pc to 692,000nt, and the West’s output fell by 18.8pc to 69,000nt.
Compared to last week, the production also decreased in all sections with the largest drop in the Western region where output fell by 4.2pc from 72,000nt.
The crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.