Weekly US steel mill capability utilization jumps to 81.5%

US raw steel capability utilization rose to its highest level since early March 2020 the week ended May 29, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported June 1.

The raw steel capability utilization rate climbed to 81.5%, up from 79% the previous week.

Production increased by 2.4% to 1.836 million st during the week ending May 29, up from 1.793 million st the previous week, according to the data.

Last week’s production was up 50.1% compared to the same week a year earlier, when capability utilization was at 54.6% and production totaled 1.223 million st.

Adjusted year-to-date production through May 29 totaled 35.9 million st, with a capability utilization rate of 78.1%. The total is 9.5% higher than the 32.8 million st produced during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 69.9%.

Last week’s production totaled 147,000 st in the Northeast, 635,000 st in the Great Lakes region, 187,000 st in the Midwest, 793,000 st in the Southern district and 74,000 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