U.S Raw Steel Production Ticks Up for the Week

U.S. raw steel production for the week ending Feb. 17 totaled 1,751,000 net tons, a 1.1 percent decrease from the same period last year, but up 0.8 percent from the prior week. The mill capability utilization rate for the week averaged 75.1 percent, up from 74.5 percent the prior week, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington.

Adjusted year-to-date producton through Feb. 17 totaled 11,757,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 73.6 percent. That’s down 1.9 percent from the same period last year when the capability utilization was 75.2 percent.

Following is production by district for the week of Feb. 17: North East: 208,000 net tons; Great Lakes, 655,000 net tons; Midwest, 162,000 net tons; South, 654,000 net tons; and West, 72,000 net tons, for a total of 1,751,000.

Note the mill capability for first-quarter 2018 is approximately 30.3 million tons, compared to 30.0 million tons for the same period last year and 30.6 million tons for fourth-quarter 2017.

The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage from 50 percent of the domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The AISI monthly production report provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75 percent of U.S. production capacity.

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