The Metals Service Center Institute said U.S. shipments of aluminum products increased in February and although steel shipments continued to decline, it was at a lower rate than the previous month. Canadian results, MSCI noted, were similar.

In February, MSCI reported U.S. service center steel shipments decreased by 1.4% from February 2014. Steel product inventories increased 15.1% over February a year ago.

 U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products in February increased by 3.7% from the same month in 2014. Inventories of aluminum products increased 9.0% from February a year ago, MSCI noted.