US raw steel production was nearly flat last week, and the industry's capability utilization was 72%, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data released Monday showed.
In the week ended Saturday, US mills produced 1.684 million st, down 0.5% from 1.693 million st in the prior week.
Last week's output was up 2.1% from the same week last year, when mills produced 1.649 million st of steel while operating at 69.8% of their capability.
Year-to-date steel production was down 2.2% year on year. The average capability utilization this year has been 70.6%, down from 71.6% at this time last year.
Northeast mills saw steel production grow 2.4% to 211,000 st from 206,000 st.
Midwest mills cut output by 3.2% to 182,000 st from 188,000 st. Great Lakes mills reduced production by 1.1% to 632,000 st from 639,000 st. Southern mills made 570,000 st of steel last week, down from 571,000 st.
Western steel output was steady at 89,000 st last 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.
