GARY – As the nation’s economy continues its post-COVID recovery, one of the key indicators – steel production – is also rebounding. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report national steel output is up 9.5% so far this year, and more than 50% higher than at the same time in 2020.

Based on data from the American Iron and Steel Institute, Great Lakes steel production rose by 14,000 tons last week.

A large percentage of the mills are clustered mainly along the south shore of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana.

The publication says the mills produced 635,000 tons of metal in the week that ended May 29, up from 621,000 tons the previous week.

Overall, production at domestic steel mills in the U.S. was up 2.4% from the previous week, but up nearly 47% compared to the same time a year prior, when the onset of the coronavirus pandemic shut down auto plants and other factories.