Feb. 6, 2013
Red Metals Shipments Dip in 2012
Service center shipments of red metals declined slightly in 2012, versus the prior year, following a poor showing in December, reports the Copper and Brass Servicenter Association, Overland Park, Kansas. Total warehouse shipments of 261.5 million pounds were off 1.1 percent from 2011.
Alloy shipments were responsible for the year-over-year decline. Alloy shipments of 139.6 million pounds were down 5.4 percent from 2011. In contrast, total copper shipments of 121.9 million pounds were up 4.4 percent from the previous year.
December shipments were down considerably in both categories, however. Total copper shipments of 7.9 million pounds during the month were off about 8.4 percent from the previous year, while alloy shipments of 8.7 million pounds declined 11.2 percent from December 2011. December shipments were also down more than 15 percent in both categories compared to November, though in one fewer shipping day.
For the year, the biggest shipment gains were made in copper rod, up 8.3 percent from 2011, and the smaller markets of 200 series brass and other alloy plate, both up more than 20 percent. The largest decline was in copper plate, down 16.2 percent compared to 2011.