North American Service Centers Report Steady Business Conditions
08/17/2012 - Canadian aluminum shipments were the bright spot in an otherwise quiet July. Steel shipments and shipments of aluminum in the U.S. were nearly flat in both countries.
Canadian aluminum shipments were the bright spot in an otherwise quiet July. Steel shipments and shipments of aluminum in the U.S. were nearly flat in both countries.
U.S. Service Center Activity
U.S. service centers shipped 3.3 million tons of steel products in the month of July 2012. This represents an increase of 5.4% from July 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, steel shipments were 25.38 million tons, an increase of 5.8% from the same period in 2011.
U.S. service centers shipped 3.3 million tons of steel products in the month of July 2012. This represents an increase of 5.4% from July 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, steel shipments were 25.38 million tons, an increase of 5.8% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 8.93 million tons at the end of July 2012, an increase of 6.2% over July a year ago and a decrease of 1.0% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.7 months supply in inventory, an increase of 0.8% from a year ago.
121,700 tons of aluminum products were shipped by U.S. service centers in July, an increase of 3.6% from the same month in 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 914,700 tons, an increase of 3.8% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of Aluminum products were 387,600 tons at the end of July 2012, an increase of 9.4% over July a year ago and an increase of 2.8% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.2 months supply in inventory, an increase of 5.7% from a year ago.
Canadian Service Center Activity
Canadian service centers shipped 471,000 tons of steel products in the month of July 2012. This represents an increase of 0.5% from July 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, steel shipments were 3.77 million tons, an increase of 1.8% from the same period in 2011.
Canadian service centers shipped 471,000 tons of steel products in the month of July 2012. This represents an increase of 0.5% from July 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, steel shipments were 3.77 million tons, an increase of 1.8% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 1.6 million tons at the end of July 2012, an increase of 0.9% from July a year ago and an increase of 2.0% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.5 months supply in inventory, an increase of 0.4% from a year ago.
12,500 tons of aluminum products were shipped by Canadian service centers in July, an increase of 15.9% from the same month in 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 95,800 tons, an increase of 12.4% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of Aluminum products were 39,000 tons at the end of July 2012, an increase of 18.2% from July a year ago and an increase of 6.1% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.1 months supply in inventory, an increase of 2.0% from a year ago.
Founded in 1909, the Metals Service Center Institute, based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., has nearly 400 members operating from more than 1,500 locations in the U.S, Canada, Mexico and throughout 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. Service centers inventory, process and distribute metals to manufacturing intermediaries and original equipment manufacturers.
