US raw steel production fell slightly to 1.731 million st last week, down 0.7% from the previous week, but up 4.6% from the same week last year, according to data released Monday by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Last week's US mill capability utilization declined to 74.3%, from 74.8% the prior week and 70.8% the same week a year ago.
Adjusted year-to-date production through October 21 was 73 million st at a capability utilization rate of 74.6%, up 3.8% from 70.4 million st in the same period last year when capability utilization was 72.2%.
Production fell in the Midwest and the South. Southern production totaled 671,000 st, down from 686,000 st the previous week. Midwest production fell to 152,000, from 162,000 the week before.
The Great Lakes region produced 644,000 st, up from 641,000 st the previous week. The Northeast region produced 189,000 st, increasing from 181,000 st produced the week prior. The West saw a slight uptick, producing 75,000 st, up from 74,000 the previous 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.
