According to the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), monthly shipments of steel and aluminum both in the United States and Canada ended 2013 with gains over December 2012.
In the U.S., December shipments lifted 2013 annual shipments to levels roughly equal with 2012 for both metals, while 2013 remained slightly below 2012 in Canada.
While inventory levels increased from November levels as a result of December’s seasonally low-level of shipments, inventories were in a better position across the board than last year at this time, MSCI’s report stated.
U.S. service center steel shipments in December 2013 increased by 16.5% from December 2012, while steel product inventories decreased 2.1% from December a year ago. U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products in December increased by 13.3% from the same month in 2012. Inventories of aluminum products increased 3.3% from December a year ago.
North of the border, MSCI reported Canadian service center shipments of steel products in December 2013 increased by 3% from December 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 25.5% from December a year ago. Canadian service center aluminum shipments in December increased 3.5% from the same month in 2012, while inventories of aluminum products decreased 6.2% from December a year ago.
