NEW YORK (Scrap Register): United States domestic raw steel production advanced by 3.7 percent to 1,747,000 net tons in the week ended on March 18, 2017, while the capability utilization rate was 73.7 percent, according to the latest figures released by the the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). According to AISI, United States domestic raw steel production was 1,685,000 net tons in the week ended March 18, 2016 while the capability utilization then was 72.1 percent. Production for the week ended March 18, 2017 is down 2.5 percent from the previous week ended March 11, 2017 when production was 1,791,000 net tons and the rate of capability utilization was 75.6 percent. Adjusted year-to-date production through March 18, 2017 was 19,134,000 net tons, at a capability utilization rate of 73.4 percent. That is up 4.6 percent from the 18,287,000 net tons during the same period last year, when the capability utilization rate was 71.3 percent.