U.S. Steel Output Posts 6.6% Weekly Gain, Says Industry Data

Steel News  |  2026-02-24 11:22:30   |   By

Adjusted year-to-date production through February 21, 2026, reached 13,174,000 net tons, up 4.3% from 12,627,000 net tons during the same period last year.

Summary
  • Strong Weekly and Annual Gains: U.S. raw steel output reached 1,817,000 net tons, up 6.6% year over year and 0.9% week over week, reflecting stable mill activity.
  • Improved Utilization Rates: Capability utilization climbed to 78.5% for the week, while year-to-date utilization edged up to 76.7%, indicating gradual strengthening in domestic demand.
  • Regional Output Leadership: The Southern district led production at 836,000 net tons, followed by the Great Lakes (522,000 net tons) and Midwest (265,000 net tons).

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): U.S. domestic raw steel production totaled 1,817,000 net tons in the week ending February 21, 2026, according to the latest industry data. Mills operated at a capability utilization rate of 78.5%, reflecting improved operational efficiency and stable order books.

The weekly output represents a 6.6% increase compared with the same week in 2025, when production stood at 1,705,000 net tons and utilization was 76.5%. On a week-over-week basis, production rose 0.9% from 1,800,000 net tons recorded in the week ending February 14, 2026, when mills operated at 77.8% capacity.

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Adjusted year-to-date production through February 21, 2026, reached 13,174,000 net tons, up 4.3% from 12,627,000 net tons during the same period last year. The year-to-date capability utilization rate improved slightly to 76.7%, compared with 76.4% in 2025, signaling gradual strengthening in domestic steel demand.

Regionally, the Southern district remained the largest producer with 836,000 net tons, followed by the Great Lakes region at 522,000 net tons. The Midwest produced 265,000 net tons, while the North East and Western districts contributed 121,000 and 73,000 net tons, respectively.

The data underscores steady momentum in U.S. steel manufacturing entering 2026.