Aluminium demand in North America up in the first two months of 2017

<p>According to preliminary estimates by the Aluminum Association aluminium demand in the United States and Canada that includes shipments by domestic producers and imports stood at an estimated 2.1 million tons for the first two months of 2017, up 2.0% over the same period of 2016. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totalled 1.5 million pounds, up 3.1%. Apparent consumption (demand minus exports) in domestic markets totalled an estimated 3,886 million pounds, up 3.3% year-over-year.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/north%20am%20alu%20demand.png" alt="News" width="371" height="260" /></p> <p>Aluminium net shipments (including exports) by domestic U.S. and Canadian facilities totalled an estimated 1 million tons during March, up 4.2% over the March 2016 total of 2,105 million pounds. Shipments of aluminium mill products increased 1.8% over the previous year to 1,409 million pounds, while shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and destructive uses were up 8.8% year-over-year, totalling 784 million pounds.</p> <p>{googleAdsense}</p> <p>For the first quarter of 2017, preliminary producer shipments totalled 3 million tons, up 1.9% from the same period of 2016. March inventory levels totalled an estimated 1.4 million tons, up 1.3% over the previous month but down 2.5% year-over-year.&nbsp;</p>