[ferro-alloys.com]The US raw steel weekly capability utilization level rose to 82.8% last week, up from 81.9% the week prior, reaching it's highest level since September 2008.

Production increased to 1.93 million st last week, according to data released Monday by the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Raw steel production increased 1% during the week ended March 2, up from 1.91 million st the previous week.

Last week's production was up 5.9% compared with the same week a year ago, when capability utilization was at 78% and production totaled 1.82 million st.

Adjusted year-to-date production was calculated by the AISI to be 16.4 million st at a capability utilization rate of 81.1%. This is up 6.9% from the same period last year, when the capability utilization rate was 75.7% for 15.4 million st of production.

By district, last week's production totaled 212,000 st in the Northeast; 716,000 st in the Great Lakes region; 208,000 st in the Midwest; 717,000 st in the Southeast district, and 74,000 st in the Western region.

The weekly raw steel production volume provided by the AISI is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production data provided by 50% of domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder.

（S&P Global Platts）

• [Editor:王可]