AISI: U.S. Steel Output Rises 0.6% Year-on-Year in Mid-September

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): U.S. steelmakers produced 1.785 million net tons of raw steel during the week ended September 19, 2026, according to the latest production statistics reported by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

U.S. raw steel weekly output rose 0.6% from the 1.775 million net tons produced during the corresponding week of 2025. However, production fell sharply by 6.1% from the previous week, when U.S. mills produced 1.900 million net tons. The latest figures put the industry’s capacity utilization rate at 77.9%, down from 82.3% a week earlier and slightly below the 78.4% recorded during the same period last year.

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Despite the weaker weekly performance, year-to-date production remains substantially ahead of last year. Adjusted raw steel output through September 19 this year reached 66.537 million net tons, up 5.5% from 63.093 million net tons during the comparable period of 2025. Year-to-date capability utilization stood at 79.0%, compared with 77.2% a year earlier.

The Southern district remained the largest producing region, accounting for 818,000 net tons during the latest week. The Great Lakes followed with 528,000 tons, while the Midwest produced 275,000 tons. The Northeast and Western districts contributed 128,000 tons and 36,000 tons, respectively.

The data suggests that weekly mill activity moderated in mid-September. However, U.S. steel production continued to maintain a sizeable year-to-date jump over 2025 levels.