The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported this week that estimated US raw steel production for last week (which ended February 14, 2009) totaled 1,083,000 nt, representing a slight increase of 0.3 percent from the previous week's total of 1,080,000 nt.
Compared to the same week of 2008, US raw steel production for the week ended February 14 was down 45.4 percent this year.
Capacity utilization for the week ended February 14 stood at 45.4 percent, up slightly from 45.3 percent in the prior week, though down significantly from the 91.6 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.