US crude steel output indicates increase-Apr 30, 2005
US steel mills produced 2.15 million net tons of crude steel in the week ending April 30, 2005, representing a capacity utilization rate of 93.6%. The same period in 2004 saw crude steel production of 2.10 million net tons at a capacity utilization rate of 94.4%. The current week production indicated a 2% increase compared to the same period last year. Production for the week ending April 30, 2005, rose 3.7% from the previous week, when production was 2.068 million net tons and the capacity utilization rate was 90.3%. Moreover, the adjusted year-to-date production through April 30, 2005, reached 34.99 million net tons at a capacity utilization rate of 88.7%. This quantity was 0.5% lower than the 35.15 million net tons produced in the same period of 2004, when the capacity utilization rate was 91.2%.