North American aluminum demand up 17.6% on year: industry group

Aluminum demand in the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producersplus imports) totaled about 4.924 billion lb during the first quarter of 2010,17.6% above a year ago, according to preliminary estimates by the US AluminumAssociation.

 Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products in the quarter was up 12% to atotal of 3.339 billion lb. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) indomestic markets totaled an estimated 4.129 billion lb, 17.4% above 2009.

 Exports of aluminum ingot and mill products from the US and Canada(excluding cross-border trade) totaled 794 million lb through March, 19% abovelast year, while imports totaled 826 million lb, down 16.8%.

 MARCH DATA Demand for aluminum semi-fabricated (mill) products in the US and Canada(measured in shipments by domestic producers plus imports) jumped 19.5% overthe previous month to an estimated 1.229 billion lb in March. Compared with ayear ago, demand for mill products was also up 19.5%.  Aluminum sheet and plate totaled 734 million lb in March, up 15.4% overFebruary, while extruded products increased 31.7% to 286 million lb.

 Estimated shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and otheruses totaled 566 million lb in March, rising 10.3% over February levels.

 Apparent consumption in domestic US and Canada markets totaled 1.476billion lb in March, up 14.4% over the previous month and 21.8% over lastyear's levels.

 Producer inventories totaled 2.110 billion lb in March, off 2% from theFebruary total of 2.153 billion lb. Compared with a year ago, producerinventory levels were off 8.5%.

 The US aluminum industry purchased an estimated 658 million lb ofaluminum scrap during March, according to the US Geological Survey. Thisrepresents an increase of 1.5% from the February total of 648 million lb andis off 10.7% from a year ago. USGS estimates that recovery of aluminum andaluminum alloys totaled 494 million lb in March, 11.8% below last year.

 Through the first quarter of 2010, recovery of aluminum from scraptotaled an estimated 1.466 billion lb, off 11.5% from 2009.

 US exports of scrap, not included in the government's consumptionstatistics, totaled 314 million lb during March, up 3.3% over the 288 millionlb reported in March 2009. Year to date, exports of scrap totaled 907 millionlb, 45.7% over levels reported for same period of 2009.