Aluminium demand in North America up 3.4% through October 2018; imports were off 5.6%

According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (measured in shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 10.7 million tonnes in the period from January to October 2018, up 3.4 per cent over the same period of 2017. Demand for semi-finished or mill products totalled 7.7 million tonnes, up 3.3 per cent. Demand for semi-finished or mill products totalled an estimated 822,363 tonnes in October, up 7.8 per cent YoY.

Apparent consumption from January to October (demand minus exports) in domestic markets stood an estimated 9.4 million tonnes, up 1.8 per cent from the same period of 2017.  Apparent consumption in October was up 7.3 per cent YoY to 1 million tonnes.

Total aluminium exports (ingot and mill products) from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totalled 1.3 million tonnes through October 2018, up 16.3 per cent from the same period of 2017. Total aluminium imports were off 5.6 per cent to 3.6 million tonnes.

Shipments of aluminium sheet and plate increased 11 per cent to 464,932 tonnes in October. Extruded product shipments increased 2.3 per cent YoY to 234,961 tonnes. Estimated shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and other uses increased 11.3 per cent to 338,380 tonnes in October.

Producer inventories stood at 1.6 million tonnes in October, up 10 per cent YoY.

The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported primary aluminium production in U.S. and Canada was at an annual rate of 4 million tonnes during November 2018, up 2.2% over the October 2018 rate of 3.9 million tonnes. The production rate in the U.S. was up 7.7 per cent m/m. YoY because of reopening of closed capacity. North American annual rate was 1.9 per cent more YoY in November. Actual production in November 2018 stood at 328,544 tonnes.

The Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products” for November 2018 rose 9.3 per cent over November 2017. On average, orders recorded by domestic producers through November 2018 were up 5.0 per cent over YTD 2017.