NEW YORK — U.S. raw steel output totaled an estimated 1,843,000 net tons last week, climbing 1.6 percent from 1,814,000 tons the previous week to the highest level since the end of August last year, as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 76.9 percent.

In the corresponding week last year, mills produced 2,007,000 tons at an average capability utilization rate of 80.7 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington.

Mills have produced 14,485,000 tons so far this year at an average capability utilization rate of 75.5 percent, down 7.3 percent from the same period last year, when mills produced 15,623,000 tons at an average capability utilization rate of 79.1 percent.