Metals Service Center Institute announced that US and Canadian metals service center shipments aluminum products rose in May at double digit rates from depressed year ago levels. Inventories were flat or rose during the month.
MSCI said that May shipments of aluminum products from US service centers totaled 97,000 tonnes, the third straight month of decline but 18.3% above year ago volume. US aluminum shipments for the first 5 months of the year total 492,300 tonnes or 13.2% more than during the same period in 2009. US aluminum inventories at the end of May of 280,400 tons were 0.7% lower than at the end of May last year and at current shipping rates represented 2.9 month supply.
Canadian metals service center shipped 11,200 tonnes of aluminum products in May or 11.6% more than in May 2009. Shipments for the year to date of 56,000 tonnes are up 3.9% from the same period last year. Inventories at the end of May of 32,800 tonnes of aluminum products were 6.0% above those at the end of the month last year and at current shipping rates, equal to 2.9 month supply.
