Aluminium demand in North America up in March and through Q1 2017

According to the preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) stood at an estimated 6,798 million pounds for Q1 2017, up 3.3percent over the same period of 2016. Demand for semi-fabricated products stood at 4,730 million pounds, up 3.9% YoY. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets for Q1 2017 stood at an estimated 6,098 million pounds, up 4.8% YoY.  Exports of aluminium ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada totalled 700 million pounds through March, down 8.1% from last year, while imports were up 37.4% to 2,315 million pounds.  

Imports of ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada stood at 898 million pounds in March 2017, up 26.9% YoY. Through the first quarter of 2017, imports were up 40.6% to 2,518 million pounds, while exports were up 3.8% YoY to 1,488 million pounds.

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Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated products in the United States and Canada (domestic shipments plus imports) stood at an estimated 1,690 million pounds in March, up 5.5% over March 2016. Shipments of aluminium sheet and plate increased 7.1% to stand at 935 million pounds in March. Extruded product shipments were up 2.5% YoY to 502 million pounds. Estimated shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and other uses stood at 761 million pounds, up 5.7% YoY. Apparent consumption in domestic U.S. and Canada markets was up 7.6% to 2,212 million pounds in March 2016. For Q1 2017 apparent consumption was up 4.8% over the same period last year. Producer inventories totalled 2,883 million pounds in March, up 1.3% MoM and down 2.5% YoY.