US raw steel production held flat week on week, with the industry's capability utilization at 74.7%, American Iron and Steel Institute data showed Monday.
In the week ended Saturday, US mills produced 1.77 million st of steel, up 0.2% from 1.766 million st the week before. The industry's capability utilization edged up to 74.7% from 74.6% the week before.
Last week's steel output was 3.6% higher than the same week last year, when mills were operating at 73.1% of their capability. Year-to-date steel production has been up 4.7%. The industry's average capability utilization in 2017 has been 73%, up from 70.8% in the same period last year.
Great Lakes mills boosted steel production 3.4% week on week to 694,000 st last week, up from 671,000 st the week before. The Northeast region also saw a 0.5%, or 1,000 st, increase to 205,000 st last week.
Southern mills reduced steel production by 2.5% to 629,000 st from 645,000 st the week before. Western mills cut production by 2.7%, or 2,000 st, to 72,000 st last week. Midwest mills also scaled back production by 1.2%, or 2,000 st, to 170,000 st last week.
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.
