US weekly steel production gained just 0.04% to 1.973 million st in the week ending February 10 from 1.965 million st in the week before, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. The most recent capacity utilization rate was 84.5%, up from 84.1% in the week ending February 3.

Compared with last year, the latest week's production represents a 7.1% decline from the same period in 2006. Production was 2.126 million st in the week ending February 10, 2006, and the utilization rate then was 89.5%.

Meanwhile, adjusted year-to-date production in the US through February 10, 2007 was 11.448 million st, at a capacity utilization rate of 81.6%. That represents a 6.6% decrease from the 12.259 million st during the same period last year, when the utilization rate was 87%.