Growth in Metals Shipments Decelerates in June
July 18, 2011
Growth in Metals Shipments Decelerates in June
ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, July 18, 2011 – Service center shipments in the U.S. and Canada for both steel and aluminum increased from 2010 levels but the rate of growth slowed significantly. Inventory levels decreased in the U.S. but increased slightly in Canada.
Steel Product Activity
U.S. service centers shipped 3,579.5 thousand tons of steel products in the month of June 2011. This represents an increase of 11.2% from June 2010. For 2011 year-to-date, steel shipments were 20,861.3 thousand tons, an increase of 18.6% from the same period in 2010.
Steel product inventories were 7,936.9 thousand tons at the end of June, 2011, an increase of 7.6% over June a year ago and a decrease of 4.3% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.2-month supply, a decrease of 3.3% from a year ago and a decrease of 6.4% from last month.
Aluminum Product Activity
134.3 thousand tons of aluminum products were shipped by U.S. service centers in June, an increase of 8.8% from the same month in 2010. For 2011 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 763.6 thousand tons, an increase of 24.0% from the same period in 2010.
Inventories of Aluminum products were 351.2 thousand tons at the end of June 2011, an increase of 12.9% over June a year ago and a decrease of 3.2% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.6-month supply, an increase of 3.8% from a year ago and a decrease of 8.2% from last month.
Canadian Steel and Aluminum Product Activity
Canadian service centers shipped 535.6 thousand tons of steel products in the month of June 2011. This represents an increase of 4.4% from June 2010. For 2011 year-to-date, steel shipments were 3,239.0 thousand tons, an increase of 12.6% from the same period in 2010.
Steel product inventories were 1,559.6 thousand tons at the end of June 2011, an increase of 16.6% from June a year ago and an increase of 1.6% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.9-month supply, an increase of 11.7% from a year ago and an increase of 0.2% from last month.
13.4 thousand tons of aluminum products were shipped by Canadian service centers in June, an increase of 6.5% from the same month in 2010. For 2011 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 74.5 thousand tons, an increase of 8.6% from the same period in 2010.
Inventories of Aluminum products were 32.1 thousand tons at the end of June 2011, an increase of 4.7% from June a year ago and an increase of 4.9% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.4-month supply, a decrease of 1.6% from a year ago and a decrease of 2.5% from last month.
Founded in 1909, the Metals Service Center Institute has more than 370 members operating from about 1,200 locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere in the world. Together, MSCI members constitute the largest single group of metals purchasers in North America, amounting each year to more than 55 million tons of steel, aluminum, and other metals, with about 300,000 manufacturers and fabricators as customers. MSCI’s membership also includes almost all ferrous and non-ferrous industrial metals producers in North America. Metals service centers inventory and distribute metals and provide first-stage fabrication services.
Contacts:
Chris Marti, vice president, research & technology (847) 485-3009 or