US raw steel output held relatively flat last week, as the industry's capability utilization inched up to 67%, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data released Monday.
In the week ended Saturday, US mills produced 1.59 million st of steel, up 0.3% from 1.585 million st the week before. The industry's capability utilization edged up to 67% from 66.8%.
Last week's production was 2.4% lower than in the same week last year, when mills were operating at 68.1% of their capability.
Year-to-date steel production was down 1.9%. The average capability utilization this year has been 71.6%, compared to 71.7% in the same period last year.
Great Lakes mills cut steel production by 1.5% last week to 656,000 st from 666,000 st the week before. Midwest mills also reduced production by 3% to 162,000 st last week from 167,000 st.
Southern mills boosted production 3.2% week on week to 511,000 st from 495,000 st. Northeast mills increased production 1.6% last week to 190,000 st from 187,000 st the week before. Western mills added 1,000 st to their weekly output, bringing last week's total to 71,000 st.
The AISI determines its weekly raw steel production data based on weekly data from 50% of the domestic industry and estimates the rest using monthly production data.
