The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has reported that US raw steel production of 1,683,000 net tons (nt) last week (ended January 1) increased 2.1 percent on week-on-week basis, with output increasing by 12.8 percent from the same week of the previous year.
Capability utilization of US raw steelmaking facilities was 69.6 percent in the week ended January 1, 2010, compared to 68.1 percent in the prior week and to 62.3 percent in the same week of last year.
The AISI reported that US raw steel production for 2010 up to the end of the year totaled 88,475,000 nt, which reflects a 37.6 percent rise in output year on year. Capability utilization for 2010 was reported as 70.2 percent, compared to a capability utilization rate of 51.5 percent in 2009.