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.
