US raw steel capability utilization rose the week ended May 1, to 78.7% from 78.4% the previous week, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported May 3.
Production increased by 0.4% to 1.788 million st during the week ending May 1, up from 1.781 million st the previous week, according to the data.
Production in the week ended May 1 was up 44.4% compared to the same week a year earlier, when capability utilization was at 55.2% and production totaled 1.238 million st.
Adjusted year-to-date production through May 1 totaled 30.315 million st, with a capability utilization rate of 77.4%. The total is 4% higher than the 29.143 million st produced during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 73.6%.
Last week’s production totaled 160,000 st in the Northeast, 616,000 st in the Great Lakes region, 185,000 st in the Midwest, 756,000 st in the Southern district and 71,000 st in the Western region.
The tonnage data is estimated, compiled from weekly production data provided by 50% of domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder.
— Ingrid Lexova