US Steelmakers Maintain Strong Production Momentum Through May 2026

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): U.S. raw steel production continued to show strong year-on-year growth, despite a slight weekly decline, according to the latest industry data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) for the week ending May 23, 2026.

The raw steel production by U.S. domestic mills totalled 1.87 million net tons during the week, while capability utilization reached 81.0 percent.

The latest output marks an 8.7 percent increase compared with the corresponding week in 2025, when U.S. steel mills produced 1.72 million net tons at a utilization rate of 76.6 percent. However, production slipped 1.5 percent from the previous week ending May 16, 2026. The output had totalled 1.898 million net tons during the prior week at a capacity utilization rate of 82.2 percent.

Adjusted year-to-date raw steel production through May 23, 2026, reached 37.053 million net tons. This is 6.7 percent higher than the 34.741 million net tons produced during the same period last year. The year-to-date capability utilization rate also improved to 78.5 percent, compared with 76.2 percent during the previous year.

Regionally, the Southern district remained the largest steel-producing region in the country, generating an output of 834,000 net tons during the reported week. The Great Lakes district followed with 510,000 net tons, while the Midwest produced 319,000 net tons. Production in the North East totaled 139,000 net tons, and the Western district recorded 68,000 net tons, AISI data said.