US raw steel production stayed largely flat last week as regional shifts in the market offset each other, American Iron and Steel Industry data released Monday showed.
In the week that ended Saturday, US mills produced 1.699 million st of steel, down 0.2% from 1.703 million st the week before. The industry's capability utilization last week was 72.7%, down from 72.8% the week before.
Production last week also was comparable to the same week a year ago, when mills produced 1.705 million st operating at 72.4% of capability.
Year-to-date steel production totaled 13.1 million st, down 7.4% from the 14.14 million st made in the same period a year ago. The industry's capability utilization this year has averaged 69.2%, down from 74.4% in the same time last year.
Production at western steel mills jumped 5.1% to 83,000 st last week, from 79,000 st. Southern mill steel production ticked up 0.5% to 595,000 st from 592,000 st.
Northeast mills cut output 2.9% to 200,000 st from 206,000 st, while Great Lakes mills production dipped 0.8% to 630,000 st from 635,000 st.
Midwest mill output was at 191,000 st, flat week on week.
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.
