Total US raw steel output recovered last week after declining in the three prior weeks, according to recent American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) figures.
Domestic raw steel production was estimated at 1,856,000 short tons (st) in the week ending July 4 (Figure 1). Output was up 14,000 st, or 0.8%, from the prior week, but still down from the six-year high of 1,898,000 st reached in mid-May.
Last week’s production was 2% above the year-to-date (YTD) weekly average of 1,819,000 st and 4.3% higher than the same week one year ago. YTD production now totals 48,112,000 st, 6.0% higher than the same period of last year.
The mill capability utilization rate was 80.4% last week, up from 79.8% the previous week and 78.9% the same week in 2025. This rate had reached a four-year high of 82.2% back in mid-May. Capability utilization has averaged 78.8% YTD.
Raw production increased week over week (w/w) in three of the five regions defined by AISI:
- Northeast – 134,000 st (down 2,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 503,000 st (up 5,000 st)
- Midwest – 321,000 st (up 8,000 st)
- South – 832,000 st (up 4,000 st)
- West – 66,000 st (down 1,000 st)
Editor’s note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated and should be used primarily to assess production trends. The graphic included in this report shows unadjusted weekly data. The monthly AISI “AIS 7” report is available by subscription and provides a more detailed summary of domestic steel production.