Compared to the previous month, the figure fell by 2.5%

Shipments of steel products from U.S. steel mills rose by 5.1% year-over-year in February 2026, reaching 7.4 million short tons, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Compared to January, this figure fell by 2.5%.

Shipments in January-February totaled 14.98 million short tons, which is 3.5% more than in the same period of 2025.

Regarding the product mix, shipments of hot-rolled sheet and strip increased by 9% year-over-year in the first two months of the year, while corrosion-resistant sheet and strip rose by 10% year-over-year, and cold-rolled sheet and strip declined by 8% year-over-year.

As a reminder, in 2025, shipments of steel products from U.S. steel mills rose by 4.9% compared to 2024—to 90.95 million short tons. Last year, the figure exceeded the 2024 level (86.70 million short tons) by nearly 4.25 million short tons, indicating a gradual recovery in domestic demand and increased steel consumption in key economic sectors.

The U.S. imported 2.42 million short tons of rolled steel in January–February 2026, a 38.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Total steel imports, including rolled products and semi-finished products, amounted to 3.31 million tons, according to AISI, a decrease of 37.6% year-over-year.