Metals shipments decline in August

From the Metals Service Center Institute, U.S. and Canadian shipments of both steel and aluminum in August returned to the year-over-year trend that was experienced earlier in 2013 in contrast from modest growth displayed in July.

From the Metals Service Center Institute, U.S. and Canadian shipments of both steel and aluminum in August returned to the year-over-year trend that was experienced earlier in 2013 in contrast from modest growth displayed in July.

U.S. service center steel shipments in August decreased by 0.6% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 11.3% from August 2012. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 10.8% from a year ago. U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products decreased by 0.8% in August compared with the same period in 2012. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 4.1% from August 2012.

Canadian service center shipments of steel products in August decreased by 6.8% from August 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 14.4% from August a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents a decrease of 8.2% from a year ago.

Canadian service center aluminum shipments in August decreased 5.1% from August 2012 levels. Inventories of aluminum products decreased 8.6% from August 2012.

The August performances are lower than July levels. In July, U.S. service center steel shipments increased by 5.3% from July 2012 and steel product inventories decreased 1.3% from June 2013 levels. U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products increased 5.7% from the same month in 2012. Inventories of aluminum products increased 0.1% from June 2013.

In July, Canadian service center shipments of steel products decreased 2.4% from July 2012, while steel product inventories decreased 1.5% from June 2013 levels. Canadian service center shipments in June 2013 decreased 0.3% from June 2012 levels, while inventories of aluminum products in July increased 0.4% over June 2013 totals.