AISI: U.S. Steel Shipments Rise 1.7% in January 2026

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that U.S. steel mills shipped 7,583,826 net tons of steel in January 2026, marking a 1.7% increase from December 2025 and a 2.0% rise compared with January 2025.

According to AISI data, shipments in December 2025 totaled 7,454,338 net tons, while January 2025 shipments reached 7,435,458 net tons, indicating steady year-over-year growth at the start of 2026.

A comparison of January 2026 shipments with January 2025 shows mixed performance across key steel product categories:

Corrosion-resistant sheet and strip: up 11%

Hot-rolled sheet and strip: up 1%

Cold-rolled sheet and strip: down 13%

The strong growth in corrosion-resistant steel products, commonly used in automotive, construction and appliance manufacturing, suggests continued demand from downstream industries requiring durable, coated materials.

Meanwhile, the decline in cold-rolled shipments may reflect shifting production patterns or inventory adjustments within manufacturing supply chains.

Industry observers note that steel shipment data often provides an early indicator of industrial activity, particularly in sectors such as construction, infrastructure, automotive manufacturing and machinery production.

Source: AISI

SUNSHINE Spotlight: U.S. steel shipments posted modest growth in January 2026, with strong demand for corrosion-resistant steel helping offset weaker cold-rolled shipments.