US raw steel production edged up last week, as the industry's capability utilization rose to 77%, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.
The 77% capability utilization during the week ended Saturday, February 15, was up from 76.8% the week before, but down from 78.3% in the year-ago week, according to AISI data released Monday.
Steel mills produced 1.845 million st last week, up from 1.839 million st the week before. Compared to the year-ago week, the industry's output last week represents a 1.6% decline.
Year-to-date steel production totaled 12.02 million st, down 0.8% from the 12.12 million produced in the year-ago period. Average capability utilization in 2014 has been 76.3%, down from 77.3% in the same period of 2013.
Northeastern steel mill production notably jumped 4.7% to 221,000 st last week, up from 211,000 st. Great Lakes output increased 0.9% to 661,000 st from the prior week's 655,000 st.
Midwest steel mill production was flat at 244,000 st. Southern mills collectively made 1.4% less steel last week with a total of 630,000 st, down from 639,000 st. Western mills yielded 1,000 st or 1.1% less steel week on week with an estimated output of 89,000 st.
AISI reported the industry's production capability in the first quarter is about 31.5 million st, up from 30.8 million st in Q1 of 2013. Q1 2014 represented no change from Q4 2013.
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.
