US crude steel production increased by 1.3pc to 1.2mn nt (1.1mn mt) with capacity utilization of 55.4pc during the week ended June 27, 2020, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
This week marks the highest production in almost three months and the third consecutive week of gains. Compared to the same week in 2019, however, crude steel production dropped 33.4pc from 1.9mn nt with the capacity dropping by 24.7 percentage points.
Year-to-date production in 2020 is lagging by 18.9pc at 39.2mn nt against 48.3mn nt in the same period in 2019. Total capacity declined by 1mn nt in the week ended June 27 compared to the total capacity in the same period a year ago.
Regionally, compared to the same week a year ago, the Northeast decreased by 43pc to 123,000nt followed by the Great lakes that saw a decline of 41pc to 409,000nt. Output in the Midwest decreased by 34pc to 132,000nt, declined by 23pc to 516,000nt in the South, and fell by 10pc in the West.
Compared to the past week, all regions increased production marginally except the South, where it declined by 2pc from 526,000nt to 516,000nt.
Crude steel production tonnage provided by AISI is compiled from weekly production of approximately 50pc of the domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder.