According to the Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute, the rate of growth of aluminum shipments from North American metals service centers rebounded in August. Inventories of both metals changed very little during the month in both the United States and Canada.
Shipments of aluminum products from US metals service centers totaled 126,600 tonnes or 47.6% more than in August 2009. For the first 7 months of the year, US aluminum shipments of 860,400 tonnes were 22.9% ahead of those from last year.
Aluminum stockpiles at metals service centers totaled 322,300 tonnes at the end of August, 23.4% larger than a year ago and equal to a 2.5 month supply at current shipping rates.
In Canada, 11,300 tonnes of aluminum were shipped in August up 11.3% from a year ago bringing year to date shipments to 89,800 tonnes, a rise of 5.6% from last year. Aluminum inventories totaled 31,700 tonnes at Canadian metals service centers at the end of August, 7.5% more than a year ago and equal to 2.8 month supply at current shipping rates.
The Metals Activity Report, based on data from metals service centers in the United States and Canada is produced by the Metals Service Center Institute and a third party econometrics and strategy firm, McCoy, Scott & Company.
