U.S. Raw Steel Production Rises 3.9% Year Over Year in Mid-August

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): U.S. steelmakers increased raw steel output during the week ended August 15, 2026, according to the latest statistics published by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production reached 1.833 million net tons during the most recent week.

The weekly U.S. raw steel output was 0.7% higher than the 1.820 million net tons produced in the previous week. The mill capacity utilization rate also improved to 79.4%, compared with 78.8% a week earlier.

Compared with the same week in 2025, steel production climbed 3.9%. The mills produced 1.764 million net tons at a utilization rate of 78.2% during the corresponding week the previous year.

The cumulative production for 2026 through August 15 reached 59.163 million net tons. This was 5.6% above the 56.012 million net tons recorded during the corresponding period last year. Capacity utilization for the year so far stood at 79.0%, up from 77.0% a year earlier.

The Southern district remained the largest producing region during the latest week, contributing 830,000 net tons. The Great Lakes followed with 479,000 tons, while the Midwest produced 318,000 tons. The Northeast accounted for 140,000 tons, and the Western district reported a production of 66,000 tons.