Estimated raw steel production in Indiana and the Chicago area was 446,000 tons during the week ending October 9, a week-on-week increase of 5,000 tons, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Production in Texas and the surrounding areas (the Southern district),the nation's largest steel-producing region, was estimated at 556,000 tons during the same period, a 20 thousand ton increase week-over-week.
Overall, US domestic mills produced 1.65 million tons of steel last week, up nearly 11 percent from the 1.49 million tons made during the same period in 2009. However, US steel mills' operating capacity dropped to 68.3 percent last week versus 69.3 percent capacity during the previous week.
Year-to-date steel production at US mills is estimated at 68.8 million, up 22.1 million tons year-over-year.