MSCIrsquos monthly Metals Activity Report details shipment and inventory totals at service centers in the US and Canada Service center shipments represent a substantial volume of the steel and aluminum consumed by machine shops and fabricators in the North America

Metal Centers' Shipments Still Declining in January

Feb. 22, 2016
Year-on-year declines for steel and aluminum deliveries continue, though inventories solidify

Metal service centers’ January steel and aluminum shipments showed little indication of reversing the downward trend that prevailed in the past year, though their inventory positions appear to be solidifying. Steel deliveries by U.S. service centers had the worst showing among the indexes released by the Metal Service Center Institute in its monthly Metals Activity Report. The results were better for U.S. centers’ aluminum shipments, and both metals performed well for Canadian service centers.

MSCI’s Metals Activity Report details shipment and inventory totals for steel and aluminum at service centers in the U.S. and Canada. Service center shipments represent a substantial volume of the metals consumed by machine shops and fabricators, and the activities at those operations are a reflection of industrial activity in the North America.

U.S. service centers shipped 3.053 million tons of steel products during January, 9.9% less than their December shipments, and 13.3% less than their January 2015 shipments. Their daily shipping rate  - 152,700 tons – showed a significant (20.9%) improvement over the December daily shipping rate.

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About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.

Brooks is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A. English, Political Science) and Emory University (M.A. English.)

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