US raw steel production recovered last week, rising 2% following the week of the Fourth of July holiday, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data released Monday.
In the week ended Saturday, US mills produced 1.746 million st of steel, up 2% from 1.712 million st in the prior week. The industry's capability utilization rose to 74.7% from 73.2%.
Production was nearly flat year over year, as US mills produced 1.75 million st in the same week last year, while operating at 73.2%.
Year-to-date steel production edged down 0.8%. The capability utilization this year has so far averaged 72.5%, close to the 72.3% reached in the same period last year.
Increases in the two largest steelmaking regions -- the South and Great Lakes -- represented most of the week-on-week gains. Southern mills ramped up production by 2.7% to 612,000 st last week, up from 596,000 st the week before. Great Lakes mills boosted production 3.1% to 696,000 st from 675,000 st.
Northeast mills increased production 2% to 205,000 st from 201,000 st. Midwest mills reduced production by 1.9% to 158,000 st from 161,000 st. Western mills cut production 5.1% to 75,000 st last week, down from 79,000 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 based on monthly production data.
