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Metals Service Center Shipments Up in April Jun 12, 2012 |
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April shipments of aluminum and steel were up slightly in both the United States and Canada, an improvement from the year-over-year declines seen in March.
U.S. metals service centers shipped 3,553.5 thousand tons of steel products in the month of April 2012, up 6.3% from April 2011. April 2012 year-to-date steel shipments were 14,735.8 thousand tons, up 6.9% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 9,144.3 thousand tons at the end of April 2012, up 11.9% over April 2011 and an increase of 3.1% from March 2012. At the current shipping rate, this is 2.6 months supply in inventory, up 5.3% from a year ago.
U.S. metals service centers shipped 129.0 thousand tons of aluminum products in April, up 2.5% from April 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 528.1 thousand tons, up 5.2% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of aluminum products were 376.9 thousand tons at the end of April 2012, up 4.1% over April 2011 and an increase of 0.8% from March 2012. At the current shipping rate, this is 2.9 months supply in inventory, up 1.5% from a year ago.
Canadian service centers shipped 521.2 thousand tons of steel products in April 2012, up 1.3% from April 2011. April 2012 year-to-date steel shipments were 2,199.0 thousand tons, up 1.1% from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 1,697.0 thousand tons at the end of April 2012, up 11.2% from April 2011 and down 0.9% from March 2012. At the current shipping rate, this is 3.3 months supply in inventory, up 9.8% from a year ago.
Canadian service centers shipped 13.4 thousand tons of aluminum products in April 2012, up 11.4% from April 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 55.2 thousand tons, up 13.5% from the same period in 2011.
Inventories of Aluminum products were 35.3 thousand tons at the end of April 2012, up 17.2% from April 2011 and down 0.1% from March 2012. At the current shipping rate, this is 2.6 months supply in inventory, up 5.2% from a year ago.