NEW YORK — U.S. raw steel output totaled 1,746,000 net tons last week as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 70.7 percent, up 2.3 percent from 1,707,000 tons the previous week.

In the corresponding week last year, mills produced 1,809,000 tons at an average capability utilization rate of 73 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington.

Mills have produced 84,557,000 tons so far this year at an average capability utilization rate of 76 percent, up 3.3 percent from the same period last year, when mills produced 81,819,000 tons at an average capability utilization rate of 74.4 percent.