Weekly US steel mill capability utilization reaches 85%

US raw steel capability utilization increased the week ended July 31, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported Aug. 2.

The raw steel capability utilization rate rose to 85%, up from 84.6% the previous week.

Production increased by 0.4% to 1.876 million st during the week ending July 31, up from 1.868 million st the previous week, according to the data.

Last week’s production was up 39% compared to the same week a year earlier, when capability utilization was at 60.3% and production totaled 1.35 million st.

Adjusted year-to-date production through July 31 totaled 54.6 million st, with a capability utilization rate of 80%. The total is 19.1% higher than the 45.8 million st produced during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 66.7%.

Last week’s production totaled 156,000 st in the Northeast, 632,000 st in the Great Lakes region, 199,000 st in the Midwest, 815,000 st in the Southern district and 74,000 st in the Western region.

The tonnage data is estimated, compiled from weekly production data provided by 50% of domestic producers, combined with monthly production data for the remainder.

— Ingrid Lexova