AISI: U.S. Steel Shipments Slide in November 2025, Year-to-Date Volumes Still Higher

U.S. steel mill shipments fell sharply in November from the previous month, signaling softer near-term demand, even as cumulative shipments for 2025 remained above last year’s levels, data published by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) showed.

Steelmakers shipped just over 7.07 million net tons in November 2025, an 8.0 percent decline from October, when shipments reached nearly 7.69 million net tons. Despite the monthly drop, volumes were 4.6 percent higher than in November 2024, underscoring a modest annual recovery in steel deliveries, AISI reported.

For the first eleven months of 2025, U.S. mills shipped about 83.5 million net tons of steel, up 5.0 percent from the same period a year earlier. Analysts say the year-to-date increase reflects steadier demand from construction and manufacturing earlier in the year, offset by recent signs of slowing orders as interest rates remain elevated and industrial activity cools.

Shipment trends varied by product category. Corrosion-resistant sheet and strip recorded a 4 percent increase year to date, while hot-rolled sheet and strip rose 1 percent. Cold-rolled sheet and strip shipments, however, fell 3 percent, suggesting uneven demand across end-use markets.

Industry groups note that monthly volatility has become more pronounced as buyers adjust inventories more cautiously. Observers say the coming months will test whether the year’s gains can be sustained amid uncertain economic conditions and global steel market pressures.

Source: AISI

SUNSHINE Spotlight: November’s shipment dip highlights short-term demand softness, but U.S. steel deliveries in 2025 remain ahead of last year overall.