Semi demand, import & export up in US and Canada in August

Demand for aluminum semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and Canada (measured in shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 1,445 million pounds in August, increasing less than one-tenth of one percent over the August 2012 total of 1,444 million pounds.

Aluminum sheet and plate totaled 795 million pounds in August, off 1.2 percent. Extruded products were up 2.7 percent year-over-year to 399 million pounds. Estimated shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and other uses totaled 726 million pounds, increasing 5.7 percent over last year. Apparent consumption in domestic U.S. and Canada markets totaled 1,818 million pounds in August, up two-tenths of one percent over the August 2012 total of 1,815 million.

Producer inventories totaled 2,658 million pounds in August, up 2.7 percent over the July level of 2,587 million pounds. Compared to a year ago, producer inventories were up 7.0 percent.

Aluminum imports of ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 420 million pounds during August 2013, up 7.6 percent over the August 2012 total of 390 million pounds. Including scrap, exports totaled 706 million pounds in August, down one-tenth of one percent from a year ago. Excluding scrap, exports totaled 353 million pounds, an increase of 11.6 percent over last year. During the first eight months of 2013, imports have declined 4.8 percent to 3,238 million pounds while exports are off 5.8 percent to 5,269 million pounds.