Indiana’s nation-leading steel production up 5 percent

Steel production in Indiana rose by 5 percent last year as the state continued to lead the nation in steel making.

The American Iron and Steel Institute said Indiana was the top steel-producing state for the 42nd straight year during 2016. The group said Indiana accounted for 27 percent of the U.S.-made steel last year.

The state has more than 20,000 steelworkers, with most of the production coming from the large mills that ring the south shore of Lake Michigan, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. Those facilities include U.S. Steel's Gary Works and ArcelorMittal's mills in East Chicago and Burns Harbor.

Raw steel production in Indiana rose by 1.2 million tons last year, to 24.4 million tons.