By 
U.S. Weekly Steel Output Plunges 13.4% as Mill Utilization Falls to 77%: AISI
U.S. raw steel production dropped by 275,000 net tons during the week ended November 7, 2026, as mill utilization fell sharply. Despite the weekly decline, production remained 2.9% above the corresponding week in 2025, while year-to-date output was up 5.9%.
By Paul Ploumis | Published November 10, 2026
Key Points
- Weekly production declines: Output fell 13.4% to 1.778 million net tons, with capacity utilization dropping to 77.0%.
- Annual growth continues: Production remained 2.9% above the comparable 2025 week, while adjusted year-to-date output increased 5.9%.
- Southern mills lead: The Southern district produced 751,000 net tons, followed by the Great Lakes at 509,000 net tons.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): U.S. raw steel production declined sharply during the week ending November 7, 2026, according to the latest estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Domestic steelmakers produced approximately 1.778 million net tons (NT), down 13.4% from the previous week's 2.053 million NT.
The decline was accompanied by a decrease in capability utilization from 88.9% to 77.0%, a drop of 11.9 percentage points.
SCRAPMONSTER EDGE | U.S. STEEL MARKET ANALYSIS
A Sharp Weekly Drop Does Not Erase the Year's Production Gains
The latest decline removed 275,000 net tons from weekly output compared with October 31. However, production remained 50,000 net tons above the corresponding week in 2025.
The contrast is especially relevant to ferrous scrap markets. ScrapMonster's October Scrap Market Scorecard documented gains of $10–$20 per metric ton across seven North American ferrous scrap grades, supported by a stronger steelmaking backdrop.
Nevertheless, a weekly production decline does not establish that mills have reduced scrap purchases by an equivalent amount. Furnace mix, inventories, operating schedules and procurement arrangements also influence raw-material demand.
Industry takeaway: Scrap yards, brokers and industrial suppliers should watch whether lower mill utilization persists through subsequent AISI reports before interpreting the decline as a sustained shift in ferrous scrap demand.
Weekly Steel Production Falls by 275,000 Net Tons
Domestic raw steel output declined from 2.053 million NT during the week ended October 31 to 1.778 million NT during the week ended November 7.
The weekly decrease of 13.4% coincided with a reduction in mill capability utilization from 88.9% to 77.0%.
Despite the pullback, production remained 2.9% above the 1.728 million NT reported for the corresponding week in 2025, when utilization was 75.4%.
The figures indicate a substantial short-term reduction in production activity, but do not establish the cause of the decline.
Year-to-Date U.S. Steel Output Remains 5.9% Higher
Adjusted cumulative raw steel production through November 7 reached 81.537 million NT, compared with 77.020 million NT during the same period in 2025.
That represents an increase of 5.9%, equivalent to approximately 4.517 million additional net tons.
The year-to-date capability utilization rate averaged 79.5%, compared with 76.9% a year earlier, an improvement of 2.6 percentage points.
These annual comparisons show that U.S. steelmaking activity remained ahead of last year's pace despite the latest weekly decline.
Southern Mills Account for the Largest Share of Steel Output
The Southern district remained the nation's largest steel-producing region during the week ended November 7, followed by the Great Lakes and Midwest.
- Southern: 751,000 NT
- Great Lakes: 509,000 NT
- Midwest: 326,000 NT
- North East: 137,000 NT
- Western: 55,000 NT
The five districts collectively accounted for the national weekly production estimate of 1.778 million NT.
Steel Market Outlook: Mill Activity and Scrap Procurement in Focus
The sharp weekly production decline comes after a stronger October for North American ferrous scrap prices. However, production volumes and scrap buying benchmarks measure different aspects of the market and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Recent trade data also show mixed conditions. AISI reported that U.S. steel import permit applications declined 11% in October, although finished steel permits increased compared with September's finalized import volumes.
The next AISI production releases will help determine whether the November 7 decline represents a temporary adjustment or the beginning of a broader slowdown.
Source: American Iron and Steel Institute, Weekly Raw Steel Production, week ended November 7, 2026. Data note: AISI's weekly production figures are estimates based on reported output from facilities representing approximately half of domestic production capability, supplemented by recent monthly data for other facilities. They are intended primarily for monitoring production trends. U.S. steel output is expressed in net tons (2,000 lb); the linked ScrapMonster ferrous scrap price changes are expressed per metric tonne.
