MSCI: Improvement in July Service Center Shipments Disappears in August
09/18/2013 - U.S. and Canadian service center shipments of both steel and aluminum returned to the year-over-year trend that was experienced earlier this year in contrast to the modest growth displayed last month, the Metals Service Center Institute reports.
U.S. Service Center Activity
U.S. service center steel shipments in August 2013 decreased by 0.6% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 11.3% from August a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 10.8% from a year ago.
U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products decreased by 0.8% in August compared with the same period a year ago. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 4.1% from August a year ago.
Canadian Service Center Activity
Canadian service centers shipments of steel products in August 2013 decreased by 6.8% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 14.4% from August a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 8.2% from a year ago.
Canadian service center aluminum shipments in August decreased 5.1% from the same month in 2012. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 8.6% from August a year ago.
U.S. service center steel shipments in August 2013 decreased by 0.6% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 11.3% from August a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 10.8% from a year ago.
U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products decreased by 0.8% in August compared with the same period a year ago. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 4.1% from August a year ago.
Canadian Service Center Activity
Canadian service centers shipments of steel products in August 2013 decreased by 6.8% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 14.4% from August a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 8.2% from a year ago.
Canadian service center aluminum shipments in August decreased 5.1% from the same month in 2012. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 8.6% from August a year ago.
