Pick up in October in the United States and Canada
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 15, 2012
Pick up in October in the UnitedStates and Canada
The slowdown in shipments from 2011 levels which began in August, eased significantly in October. Steel shipments were up slightly in the United States and essentially flat in Canada. Aluminum shipments returned to double digit growth in Canada and fell only slightly in the United States. Inventory positions improved for both metals in both countries.
U.S. Service CenterActivity
U.S. service centers shipped 3.5 million tons of steel products in October. This represents an increase of 3.9% from October 2011. For 2012,year-to-date steel shipments were 35.6 million tons, an increase of 3.4% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 8.4 million tons at the end of October 2012, an increase of 0.8% over October a year ago and a decrease of 3.6% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.4 months of supply in inventory, a decrease of 3.0% from a year ago.
125,000 tons of aluminum products were shipped by U.S. service centers in October, a decrease of 2.3% from the same month in 2011. For 2012,year-to-date aluminum shipments were nearly 1.3 million tons, an increase of 1.2% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of aluminum products were 371,800 tons at the end of October 2012, an increase of 3.8% over October a year ago and a decrease of 1.3% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.0 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 6.3% from a year ago.
Canadian Service Center Activity
Canadian service centers shipped 523,400 tons of steel products in October 2012. This represents a decrease of 1.1% from October 2011. For 2012, year-to-date steel shipments were nearly 5.3 million tons, a decrease of 1.0% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were nearly 1.7 million tons at the end of October 2012, an increase of 11.2% from October a year ago and an increase of 1.4% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.2 months supply in inventory, an increase of 12.5% from a year ago.
14,000 tons of aluminum products were shipped by Canadian service centers in October, an increase of 13.6% from the same month in 2011. For 2012, year-to-date aluminum shipments were 135,500 tons, an increase of 9.6% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of aluminum products were 39,600 tons at the end of October 2012, an increase of 8.9% from October a year ago and an increase of 0.7% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.8 months of supply in inventory, a decrease of 4.1% from a year ago.
Contacts:
Chris Marti, vice president, research (847) 485-3009 or 708-280-2904