Features

AISI: Raw steel production climbs to three-year high
Written by Brett Linton
June 9, 2025
Domestic steel mills are ramping up production, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), with output rising to a three-year high last week.
US mills produced an estimated 1,785,000 short tons (st) of raw steel for the week ending June 7, a 28,000-st (or 1.6%) increase from the prior week (Figure 1). This represents the highest unadjusted weekly production figure since May 2022. Mill output has trended higher since April. It has also increased in six of the last seven weeks.

Last week’s production was 5.9% above the year-to-date (YTD) average of 1,686,000 st per week and 4.8% higher than the same week of 2024.
The mill capability utilization rate was 79.5% last week, up from 78.2% the previous week and up from 76.7% one year ago. This is the highest rate recorded since September 2024.
YTD production stands at 38,072,000 st with a capability utilization rate of 75.5%. After a slower first quarter than 2024, 2025 output is catching up. It is now just 93,000 st (0.2%) below the same period of last year.
Raw production increased week over week (w/w) in four of the five AISI-defined regions:
- Northeast – 128,000 st (down 3,000 st w/w)
- Great Lakes – 535,000 st (up 3,000 st)
- Midwest – 252,000 st (up 17,000 st)
- South – 802,000 st (up 9,000 st)
- West – 68,000 st (up 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 Features

Commerce launches probe into unfairly traded rebar imports
Here are the details and a case timeline for the rebar trade case recently initiated by the Commerce Department.

Final Thoughts
Based on the amount of ‘out of office’ replies we’ve been receiving and the results of this week’s steel buyers’ survey, those pesky summer doldrums have arrived for the steel industry.

SMU Community Chat: CRU analysts Thais Terzian and Frank Nikolic on Wednesday
CRU analysts Thais Terzian and Frank Nikolic will be the featured guests on the next SMU Community Chat on Wednesday, July 9, at 11 am ET. The live webinar is free for anyone to attend. A recording will be available to SMU subscribers.

Leibowitz on Trade: Who is winning the tariff debate?
Most economists will tell you that universal tariffs will result in inflation and reduce demand, causing a recession or worse. (After all, this is what happened in the 1930s). It is a rare product that is so essential that demand will not go down if prices go up.

SMU’s Week in Review: June 23-27
A roundup of trade news, what's up with Brazilian pig iron, SMU's latest survey results and more to keep you up to date.