North American aluminum demand rises 6.6% in January-February: group

Aluminum demand in the US and Canada -- shipments by domestic producers plus imports -- totaled an estimated 3.302 billion lb during the first two months of 2011, 6.6% above the same period of 2010, according to preliminary Aluminum Association estimates.

Year-to-date, apparent consumption -- demand less exports -- in domestic markets totaled an estimated 2.723 billion lb, 3.8% above the previous year. Exports of aluminum ingot and mill products from the US and Canada, excluding cross-border trade, totaled 578 million lb through February, 21.8% above last year, while imports totaled 548 million lb, up 5.4%.

Demand for aluminum semi-fabricated (mill) products in the US and Canada (measured in shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 1.105 billion lb in February, up 7.1% over the February 2010 total of 1.032 billion lb. Aluminum sheet and plate demand totaled 687 million lb in February, up 6.1%, while extruded products rose 7.3% to 235 million lb.

Estimated shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and other uses in February totaled 534 million lb, up 8% over last year. Apparent consumption in domestic US and Canada markets totaled 1.316 billion lb in February, increasing 3.3% over the February 2010 total of 1.275 billion lb. Through the first two months of the year, apparent consumption was up 3.8% over last year.

Producer inventories totaled 2.331 billion lb in February, up from the January level of 2.623 billion lb. Producer inventories were 7.8% higher than the same month a year ago.

The US aluminum industry bought an estimated 557 million lb of aluminum scrap during December, according to the US Geological Survey. Figures are 14.9% lower than the year prior. The USGS estimates that recovery of aluminum and aluminum alloys totaled 444 million lb in December, down 17.5% from the year before.

At the end of last year, recovery of aluminum from scrap totaled an estimated 5.885 billion, off 13.9% from 2009. US exports of scrap, not included in the government's consumption statistics, totaled 4.062 billion lb, up 15.6% over 2009.

Aluminum imports of ingot, scrap and mill products into the US and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 318 million lb in February, 14.3% above the February 2010 total of 278 million lb. Year-to-date, imports totaled 615 million lb, up 7.5% over the 572 million lb reported for the same period of 2010.

Including scrap, exports totaled 664 million lb in February, up 19.2% over a year ago. Year-to-date, exports totaled 1.216 billion lb, 13.7% above last year. Excluding scrap, exports totaled 578 million lb through February, up 21.8%.