CBSA: Red Metals Shipments Up 6.8 Percent in March

Shipments from red metals warehouses during March were up 6.8 percent compared to the same period in 2010, according to the Copper and Brass Servicenter Association, Overland Park, Kan. For the first three months of the year, shipments were up 7.8 percent compared to the first quarter of last year.

Copper shipments jumped 16.9 percent to 11.1 million pounds. First-quarter shipments of copper products were up 11.0 percent to 19.0 million pounds.

Alloy shipments of 14.3 million tons were flat in March compared to the same month in 2010. However, total alloy shipments for the quarter remained 5.6 percent ahead of last year’s pace.

Plate products enjoyed the biggest jump during the first three months, with copper plate shipments of 1.4 million tons exceeding the same period in 2010 by 32.9 percent. Similarly, 200 series brass plate shipments were up 42.9 percent to 160,000 pounds for the quarter.