Steel Products

AISI: Raw steel production levels off near six-month high
Written by Brett Linton
April 21, 2025
The volume of raw steel produced by US mills remained relatively flat last week, maintaining the rebound seen one week prior, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Previously at the second-highest rate of the year, production continues to hold at one the strongest levels recorded over the last six months.
Domestic steel mill output was estimated at 1,682,000 short tons (st) in the week ending April 19 (Figure 1). Production declined by 7,000 tons, or 0.4%, compared to the previous week.

Last week’s production was 1.2% above the year-to-date average of 1,662,000 st per week. Compared to this time last year, production this week is down by 0.8%.
The mill capability utilization rate last week was 74.9%, down slightly from the prior week (75.2%) and down from this time last year (76.3%). Since the start of 2025, the capability utilization rate has averaged 74.6%.
Year-to-date production totals 25,895,000 st at a capability utilization rate of 74.6%. This is 1.3% less than the same period of last year when 26,229,000 st had been produced at a rate of 75.9%.
Raw production decreased this week in three of the five regions, as reported by AISI:
- Northeast – 130,000 st (up 3,000 st w/w)
- Great Lakes – 523,000 st (down 26,000 st)
- Midwest – 247,000 st (down 1,000 st)
- South – 716,000 st (up 19,000 st)
- West – 66,000 st (down 2,000 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 Products

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.

U.S. Steel to halt slab conversion at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]

SMU Week in Review: September 1-5
Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on.

HR Futures: Market finds footing on supply-side mechanics
As Labor Day marks the transition into fall, the steel market enters September with a similar sense of change. Supply-side fundamentals are beginning to show signs of restraint: imports are limited, outages loom, and production is capped, setting the stage for a market that feels steady on the surface but still unsettled underneath.

Beige Book: US markets remain cautious amidst volatile pricing environment
Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report. The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]