The manufacturing sector is a driving force behind economic growth.

Japanese automaker Honda expects to boost its North American production in the fourth quarter as access to auto parts improves.

US steelmakers' attempts to correct the oversupply may be swamped by new capacity coming online.

The company's saleable iron ore production stood at 1.08mn t over the three-month period, while sales edged up by 2pc against the previous year, to 1.34mn t.

Integrated steelmaker US Steel is indefinitely idling a blast furnace at its Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania.

The plate delivered assessment rose by $8.25/st to $1,676.50/st.

The daily Argus ICX 62pc iron ore index was at $96.15/dry metric tonne today, down 19pc from a year earlier.

Private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.43tn, 0.6pc below the July estimate of $1.44tn.