Steel, Aluminum Shipments Down in September > Metal Center News

Steel, Aluminum Shipments Down in September

Oct. 17, 2012

Steel, Aluminum Shipments Down in September

The slowdown continued in September with both American and Canadian service centers reporting declines in steel and aluminum shipments, according to the latest Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Steel and aluminum shipments in the U.S. declined about 10 percent, compared to September 2011 levels, following a 1 percent decline in August. In Canada, steel shipments were off 15 percent compared to the same month last year, while aluminum shipments showed a yearly decline for the first time in two years.

U.S. service centers shipped approximately 3 million tons of steel products in September, a decline of 9.5 percent from September 2011. For the year to date, shipments totaled 32.1 million tons, an increase of 3.3 percent from the same period last year. Inventories totaled about 8.8 million tons at the end of September, an increase of 3.1 percent over the previous year but down 2.1 percent from August. At September shipping rates, that represented 2.8 months of supply.

U.S. service centers shipped 112,500 tons of aluminum products in September, a decrease of 10.8 percent from the same month in 2011. Year-to-date, aluminum shipments totaled 1.2 million tons, an increase of 1.6 percent from last year. Inventories of aluminum products totaled 376,600 tons at the end of September, an increase of 6.5 percent over last year but down 1.1 percent from the previous month. At September shipping rates, that represented 3.3 months of supply.

Canadian service centers shipped 469,900 tons of steel products in September, a decrease of 15.6 percent from last year. For the year to date, steel shipments totaled 4.8 million tons, a decline of 1.0 percent from the first nine months of 2011. Inventories totaled 1.6 million tons at the end of September, an increase of 4.2 percent from a year ago and up 0.5 percent from August. At September shipping rates, that represented 3.5 months of supply.

Canadian service centers shipped 12,300 tons of aluminum products in September, a decrease of 7.4 percent from the same month in 2011. Year-to-date aluminum shipments totaled 121,500 tons, an increase of 9.2 percent from last year. Inventories of aluminum products totaled 39,400 tons at the end of September, an increase of 12.8 percent from a year ago and up 0.4 percent from August. At September shipping rates, that represented 3.2 months of supply.