Steel Mills
AISI: Raw steel production slipped last week
Written by Brett Linton
March 24, 2025
Raw steel mill output declined last week for the second consecutive week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). While down, production remains in line with the average rates recorded across 2025 to date.
Domestic steel mill production was estimated at 1,654,000 short tons (st) in the week ending March 22 (Figure 1). Production declined by 13,000 tons, or 0.8%, week over week (w/w).
Last week’s production was 0.1% below the year-to-date average of 1,656,000 st per week. Compared to this time last year, production this week is down 2.5%.
The latest mill capability utilization rate slipped to 74.3% from 74.9% the previous week. This time last year it was 76.4%.
Year-to-date production now stands at 19,171,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 74.4%. This is 1.4% less than the same period of 2024, when 19,447,000 st had been produced at a rate of 75.8%.
Raw production increased this week in three of the five regions, as reported by AISI:
- Northeast – 123,000 st (up 3,000 st w/w)
- Great Lakes – 488,000 st (up 13,000 st)
- Midwest – 224,000 st (down 16,000 st)
- South – 745,000 st (down 26,000 st)
- West – 74,000 st (up 13,000 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.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Mills
ArcelorMittal’s EAF in Alabama expects first heat in Q2
The facility at AMNS Calvert will be the first EAF in North America capable of supplying exposed automotive grades with domestically melted and poured material.
Nucor’s Topalian lauds Trump’s trade policies, downplays impact
Nucor’s top exec Leon Topalian said the benefit of the current administration’s aggressive trade policies “trumps” any risk of potentially higher raw materials prices.
SSAB reports higher production, shipments
But profits slipped vs. last year.
Nucor earnings slump in first quarter, but better times seen ahead
Nucor’s profits fell precipitously in the first quarter, but the company has a rosier outlook for the following quarter.
Nucor names Batterbee, Bledsoe to HR roles
Nucor Corp. has promoted Thomas J. Batterbee to the position EVP of human resources and talent and appointed Elizabeth Bledsoe to the newly created position of president of human resources and talent.