AISI: U.S. Steel Shipments Decline 2.1% in September, Remain Up 4.8% Year to Date

U.S. steel mills shipped approximately 8.05 million net tons (NT) of steel in September 2026, down 2.1% from August, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Despite the monthly decline, shipments edged up slightly from the 8.03 million NT recorded in September 2025, indicating that deliveries remained broadly stable compared with the same period last year.

For the first nine months of 2026, total U.S. steel shipments reached approximately 72.01 million NT, an increase of 4.8% from 68.73 million NT during the corresponding period in 2025. The year-to-date figures indicate that the industry's overall shipment volume has maintained growth despite the month-to-month fluctuation recorded in September.

Performance varied across major steel product categories. Compared with the first nine months of 2025, shipments of corrosion-resistant sheet and strip increased 10%, while hot-rolled sheet and strip rose 8%. Cold-rolled sheet shipments, in contrast, declined 0.6%, reflecting differences in demand across product segments.

The September figures point to a modest monthly slowdown rather than a broader decline in U.S. steel deliveries. With year-to-date shipments still above the previous year's level, overall performance remains positive, although the differing trends among product categories suggest that demand conditions are not uniform across the market. Further monthly data will help determine whether the September decline represents a temporary fluctuation or the beginning of a more sustained change in shipment activity.

Source: American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

SUNSHINE Spotlight: September's shipment figures show that U.S. steel deliveries softened from the previous month but remained higher on a year-to-date basis. For the scrap market, steel mill shipment trends are worth monitoring alongside production levels and raw material demand, as changes in mill activity can influence purchasing requirements for ferrous scrap.