US raw steel output increased by 0.7 percent during the week ended February 6, 2010 when compared to the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
AISI reported that US raw steel production in the week ended February 6, 2010 totaled 1,605,000 nt, up from 1,595,000 nt produced in the previous week, and up from 1,057,000 nt produced during the same week of 2009.
In the week ended February 6, US steelmakers were producing at 67.3 percent capacity, said AISI. This is up from the prior week's 66.9 percent and up from 45.1 percent in the corresponding week of last year.
US crude steel output has risen when compared to both the prior week and the same week of 2009 in every week of 2010 so far. Year-to-date, US production has totaled 8,296,000 nt, which is up 53.3 percent from year-to-date production as of February 6, 2009. Year-to-date percent capability utilization has averaged at 64.9 percent; in the same period of 2009 it was 43.9 percent.