Aluminum Association updates on downstream market situation in North America

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 105.0 million pounds during April 2015, unchanged from April 2014. Compared to the previous month, shipments declined 2.6 percent from the March 2015 revised total of 107.8 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2015 totaled 419.0 million pounds, up 1.2 percent over the 2014 year-to-date total of 413.9 million pounds.

Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 6,426 million pounds during the first quarter of 2015, up 3.1 percent over the first quarter last year. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 4,506 million pounds, up 11.7 percent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 5,726 million pounds, increasing 8.7 percent year-to-date.

Shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled an estimated 407.5 million pounds during April 2015, an increase of 5.9 percent over the April 2014 total of 384.8 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments declined 3.2 percent from the March 2015 revised total of 421.0 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2015 totaled 1,593.5 million pounds, up 8.1 percent over the 2014 year-to-date total of 1,473.7 million pounds.