Metal shipments from U.S. service centers in May 2013 were off the pace from May 2012 by 4.8%, while steel product inventories dipped 11.6% from last May. At the current shipping rate, there is 2.2-month inventory supply.
Aluminum shipments by service centers decreased by 2.7% in May 2013 from May 2012 and inventories decreased by 4.6% from last year. This represents 2.8 months of inventory at the current shipping rate.
In Canada, service center steel shipments fell by 10.1% in May 2013 from the previous year. Steel product inventory in Canada decreased by 7.5% from May 2012. Aluminum shipments in May decreased by 0.5% from the previous year, while inventory of aluminum increased by 2.7%.
