Aluminum Association updates on downstream market in North America

Aluminum prices had their ups and downs this week. The LME cash price rose $40/mt to its mid-week peak of $1,758/mt only to retreat to $1,732/mt at week’s end.

Estimated shipments of Extruded Products by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 1,090 million pounds in the first quarter of 2014, up 6.7 percent from the first quarter 2013 total of 1,021 million pounds. Shipments to the transportation market, as reported by participating companies, were up 12.3 percent year-over-year and 19.3 percent compared to the previous quarter.

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Foil by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 83.7 million pounds during April 2014, off 4.3 percent from the April 2013 total of 87.4 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 6.3 percent from the March 2014 total of 89.3 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2014 totaled 334.2 million pounds, down six-tenths of one percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 336.0 million pounds.

Shipments of Can Stock totaled 342.0 million pounds during April 2014, down 10.2 percent from the April 2013 total of 380.7 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 7.3 percent from the March 2014 revised total of 368.8 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2014 totaled 1,382.5 million pounds, off 7.5 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 1,494.8 million pounds. Compared to April 2013, shipments of can stock to U.S. markets were off 8.9 percent to 283.4 million pounds while exports decreased 15.9 percent to 58.6 million pounds.

Shipments of Aluminum Powder and Paste to domestic markets by domestic producers, including imports by domestic producers, totaled 5.39 million pounds during April 2014, a decrease of 15.8 percent from the April 2013 total of 6.40 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments were off 19.4 percent from the March 2014 total of 6.69 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2014 totaled 26.70 million pounds, up 3.1 percent over the 2013 year-to-date total of 25.89 million pounds.

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Forgings and Impacts by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 25.5 million pounds during April 2014, an increase of 10.3 percent over the April 2013 total of 23.1 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 13.6 percent from the March 2014 total of 29.5 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2014 totaled 105.8 million pounds, up 12.7 percent over the 2013 year-to-date total of 93.9 million pounds.