Metal Shipments Continue Year-Over-Year Growth in September
10/19/2011 - Service center shipments remained above 2010 levels for steel and aluminum products in both the U.S. and Canada in September, according to the latest Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute.
Service center shipments remained above 2010 levels for steel and aluminum products in both the U.S. and Canada in September, according to the latest Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute. Inventory positions remained near August levels for both metals in both countries.
The report also shows that steel shipments from U.S. service centers totaled 3,401.8 thousand tons in September 2011, representing an increase of 7.4% from September 2010. Year-to-date steel shipments were 31,074.5 thousand tons, an increase of 15.9% from the same period in 2010.
By the end of September, steel product inventories were 8,502.1 thousand tons, an increase of 12.9% over September a year ago and an increase of 0.5% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.5 months supply in inventory, an increase of 5.1% from a year ago.
September shipments of aluminum products by U.S. service centers totaled 126.2 thousand tons, an increase of 6.6% from the same month in 2010. Year-to-date aluminum shipments were 1,143.2 thousand tons, an increase of 16.8% from the same period in 2010.
Inventories of aluminum products were 353.5 thousand tons at the end of September 2011, an increase of 7.9% over September a year ago and a decrease of 2.0% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.8 months supply, an increase of 1.1% from a year ago.
Canadian service centers shipped 556.9 thousand tons of steel products in September 2011, an increase of 10.1% from September 2010. Year-to-date steel shipments were 4,805.5 thousand tons, an increase of 12.0% from the same period in 2010.
Steel product inventories were 1,563.6 thousand tons at the end of September 2011, an increase of 18.9% from September a year ago and a decrease of 3.9% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.8 months supply in inventory, an increase of 7.9% from a year ago.
September shipments of aluminum products by Canadian service centers totaled 13.3 thousand tons, an increase of 8.8% from the same month in 2010. Year-to-date aluminum shipments were 111.2 thousand tons, an increase of 9.1% from the same period in 2010.
Inventories of aluminum products were 34.9 thousand tons at the end of September 2011, an increase of 11.2% from last September and an increase of 1.9% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.6 months’ supply, an increase of 2.2% from a year ago.
Founded in 1909, the Metals Service Center Institute has more than 370 members operating from about 1200 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 most ferrous and non-ferrous industrial metals producers in North America.
