US raw steel production increased by 0.5pc to 1.77mn nt (1.61mn mt) from 1.76mn nt last week with a capacity utilization rate of 78pc for the week ended April 17, 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Compared to the same week in 2020, output rose by 42.7pc from 1.24mn nt and capacity utilization moved up by 40.8pc from 55.4pc. Production ticked up by 0.1pc to 26.7mn nt between Jan 1 and Apr 17 from 25.43mn nt during the same year-to-date period last year.
The capacity utilization rate was 77.1pc year-to-date through Apr 17 compared to 73.7pc during the same period in 2020. Total capacity decreased by 1.55mn nt on an annual basis for the week ended Apr 17.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, production increases occurred in the North East with output up by 41.4pc to 164,000nt, output in the Great Lakes rose by 36.1pc to 603,000nt, in the Midwest increased by 47.6pc to 183,000nt, the South was up by 38.6pc to 747,000nt and the West’s production increased by 32.7pc to 73,000nt.
Compared to the previous week production increased in all regions except for the Great Lakes where output fell 3.2pc from 623,000nt.
The estimated crude steel tonnage provided by AISI is compiled by combining weekly production figures from 50pc of domestic producers and monthly production data.