Weekly US steel mill capability utilization rises to 83%: AISI

US raw steel production moved higher the week ended July 3, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported July 6.

The raw steel capability utilization increased to 83%, up slightly from 82.7% the previous week, according to the AISI.

Production rose by 0.4% to 1.842 million st during the week ending July 3, up from 1.835 million st the previous week.

Last week’s production was up 41% compared to the same week a year earlier, when capability utilization was at 58.3% and production totaled 1.306 million st.

Adjusted year-to-date production through July 3 totaled 46.896 million st, with a capability utilization rate of 79%. The total is 16% higher than the 40.415 million st produced during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 67.7%.

Last week’s production totaled 144,000 st in the Northeast, 648,000 st in the Great Lakes region, 202,000 st in the Midwest, 772,000 st in the Southern district and 76,000 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.

— Kevin Salmon