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MSCI: 2012 Service Center Shipments Match 2011

01/16/2013 - With the exception of aluminum shipments in Canada, which increased moderately, the slowdown in North American service center shipments from 2011 levels that has characterized the second half of 2012 and continued in December, left the year about even with 2011.

With the exception of aluminum shipments in Canada, which increased moderately, the slowdown in North American service center shipments from 2011 levels that has characterized the second half of 2012 and continued in December, left the year about even with 2011. Inventory to sales ratios, however, deteriorated across the board, the Metals Service Center Institute reports.
U.S. Service Center Activity
U.S. service centers shipped more than 2.5 million tons of steel products in December 2012. This represents a decrease of 14.4% from December 2011. For 2012, steel shipments were 41.2 million tons, an increase of 1.3% from 2011.
Steel product inventories were 8.5 million tons at the end of December 2012, an increase of 2.4% over December a year ago and an increase of 4.6% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.4 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 19.6% from a year ago.
In December, 91,900 tons of aluminum products were shipped by U.S. service centers, a decrease of 15.9% from the same month in 2011. For 2012, aluminum shipments were nearly 1.5 million tons, a decrease of 0.9% from 2011.
Inventories of aluminum products were 365,600 tons at the end of December 2012, an increase of 2.4% over December a year ago and an increase of 0.1% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 4.0 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 21.9% from a year ago.
Canadian Service Center Activity
Canadian service centers shipped 338,600 tons of steel products in December 2012. This represents a decrease of 19.3% from December 2011. For 2012, steel shipments were 6.1 million tons, a decrease of 2.8% from 2011.
Steel product inventories were 1.8 million tons at the end of December 2012, an increase of 21.6% from December a year ago and an increase of 9.7% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 5.4 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 50.7% from a year ago.
In December, 8,500 tons of aluminum products were shipped by Canadian service centers, a decrease of 12.1% from the same month in 2011. For 2012, aluminum shipments were 157,100 tons, an increase of 7.3% from 2011.
Inventories of aluminum products were 38,800 tons at the end of December 2012, an increase of 13.2% from December a year ago and a decrease of 1.5% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 4.5 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 28.8% from a year ago.