The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Wednesday that estimated US raw steel production for the week ended January 17, 2009 totaled 1,045,000 nt, representing a 1.6 percent decrease from the previous week.
Compared to the same week of 2008, US raw steel production for the week ended January 17 was down 51.5 percent this year.
Capacity utilization for the week ended January 17 stood at 43.8 percent, down slightly from 44.5 percent in the prior week, though registering a major decrease from the 90.3 percent percent capability utilization rate for the same week of 2008.
AISI's estimated raw steel production tonnage is compiled from weekly production data provided from 50 percent of domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder.