The US raw steel weekly capability utilization level last week rose to 82.8% from 82.3% the previous week.
Production increased to 1.927 million st last week, up 0.6% from the 1.915 million st produced during the previous week, according to data released Monday by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Last week's production was up 6.6% compared with the same week a year ago, when capability utilization was at 77.1% and production totaled 1.808 million st.
Adjusted year-to-date production was calculated by the AISI to be 35.6 million st at a capability utilization rate of 81.8%. This is up 6.6% from the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 76.6% for 33.4 million st of production.
By district, last week's production totaled 201,000 st in the Northeast; 735,000 st in the Great Lakes region; 191,000 st in the Midwest; 722,000 st in the Southeast district, and 78,000 st in the Western region.
The weekly raw steel production volume provided by the AISI is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production data provided by 50% of domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder.
