Market Data
December 22, 2025
AISI: Weekly raw steel mill output ticks lower
Written by Brett Linton
Domestic raw steel production edged lower last week, according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). This marks the second-lowest weekly production rate recorded since May.
US mills produced an estimated 1,725,000 short tons (st) of raw steel in the week ending Dec. 20, down 28,000 st or 1.6% from the previous week (Figure 1). Output has trended lower in recent months following the three-and-a-half-year high of 1,800,000 st set in late August.
Last week’s production was 0.2% below the year-to-date (YTD) weekly average of 1,728,000 st, but 3.6% higher than the same week one year prior. YTD production now stands at 87,606,000 st, up 3.4% from the same period last year.
The mill capability utilization rate was 75.3% last week. This is down from the previous week (76.5%) but higher than the same week last year (75.0%). Capability utilization has averaged 76.8% YTD.
Raw production declined week over week (w/w) in all five AISI defined regions:
- Northeast – 113,000 st (down 8,000 st)
- Great Lakes – 476,000 st (down 4,000 st)
- Midwest – 260,000 st (down 4,000 st)
- South – 812,000 st (down 3,000 st)
- West – 64,000 st (down 9,000 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.
