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U.S. Raw Steel Output Jumps 19.2% as Mill Utilization Reaches 88.9%
U.S. raw steel production increased 19.2% year over year to 2.053 million net tons during the week ended October 31, 2026. Output also surged 15.7% from the previous week, lifting mill capacity utilization to 88.9%, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.
By Paul Ploumis
Published: November 3, 2026
Reporting period: Week ended October 31, 2026
Key Points
- Weekly production: 2.053 million net tons, up 19.2% year over year.
- Week-over-week growth: Output increased 15.7% from 1.774 million net tons.
- Capacity utilization: Reached 88.9%, compared with 76.8% the previous week.
- Year-to-date production: 79.758 million net tons, up 6% from 2025.
- Regional leader: Southern mills produced 1.001 million net tons.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): U.S. steelmakers recorded a sharp increase in raw steel production during the week ended October 31, 2026, with domestic output rising 19.2% year over year, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Domestic mills produced an estimated 2.053 million net tons, compared with 1.722 million net tons during the corresponding week of 2025. Capacity utilization climbed to 88.9% from 75.1% a year earlier.
ScrapMonster Edge: Steel Mill Utilization Jumps 12.1 Percentage Points in One Week
The most notable development was the week-over-week recovery. U.S. mills increased production by 279,000 net tons, lifting capacity utilization from 76.8% to 88.9%, a gain of 12.1 percentage points.
The Southern district accounted for nearly 49% of national steel output, producing 1.001 million net tons.
Industry takeaway: Higher mill output indicates a substantial increase in steelmaking activity during the reporting week. For ferrous scrap processors and suppliers, utilization is an important indicator to monitor alongside mill purchasing schedules and scrap prices. However, the production figures alone do not establish how much additional scrap mills consumed or whether buying prices increased.
Weekly Steel Production Rises 15.7%
U.S. raw steel output increased 15.7% from the 1.774 million net tons produced during the week ended October 24, 2026.
Capacity utilization advanced from 76.8% to 88.9% over the same period, reflecting the substantial rebound in weekly steelmaking activity.
Year-to-Date Steel Output Increases 6%
Adjusted U.S. raw steel production totaled 79.758 million net tons through October 31, compared with 75.248 million net tons during the corresponding period in 2025.
The increase represents 6% year-over-year growth.
Year-to-date capacity utilization also improved, reaching 79.5% compared with 77% during the same period last year.
Southern District Leads U.S. Steel Production
The Southern district accounted for the largest share of national raw steel production during the reporting week, followed by the Great Lakes and Midwest.
| District | Production (Net Tons) |
|---|---|
| Southern | 1,001,000 |
| Great Lakes | 518,000 |
| Midwest | 328,000 |
| Northeast | 141,000 |
| Western | 65,000 |
| Total U.S. | 2,053,000 |
The regional figures together account for the full 2.053 million net tons reported nationally.
Data note: AISI's weekly raw steel production figures are estimates based on reporting from mills representing approximately half of domestic production capacity, supplemented by monthly production data for the remainder. The series is intended primarily to assess production trends.
