US raw steel production edged up 0.7% last week, bringing the industry's capability utilization to just over 75%, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data released Tuesday.
US mills produced 1.753 million st of steel in the week ended Saturday, up from 1.741 million st the week before. The industry's capability utilization increased to 75.2% last week from 74.7% the week before.
Production last week was up 1.2% from the same week last year, when mills produced 1.732 million st while operating at 74.1% of their capability.
Year-to-date steel production rose 2.9% year on year. Mills have been operating at an average utilization rate of 74.4% so far this year, up from 72.1% in the same period last year.
The Western region saw the largest boost in production last week, with mills producing 78,000 st, up 14.7% from 68,000 st the week before.
Midwest mills produced 166,000 st last week, up 1.8% from 163,000 st the week before. Great Lakes mills made 651,000 st last week, up 0.8% from 646,000 st the week before. Northeast mills increased production by 0.5% to 214,000 st last week from 213,000 the week prior.
Southern mills cut production by 1.1% to 644,000 st last week from 651,000 st.
The AISI determines its weekly raw steel production data based on weekly data from 50% of the domestic industry and estimates of the rest using monthly production data.
