Aluminum Association updates on North American downstream aluminium market in April

Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 6,149 million pounds during the first three months of 2014, down one-tenth of one percent from a year ago. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 4,034 million pounds, down five-tenths of one percent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 5,196 million pounds, increasing 1.8 percent.

New can stock (class) scrap receipts totaled 58.2 million pounds during April 2014, a decline of 5.0 percent from the April 2013 total of 61.3 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, class scrap receipts rose 3.1 percent over the March 2014 total of 56.5 million pounds. Year-to-date class scrap receipts for 2014 totaled 230.6 million pounds, off 9.3 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 254.2 million pounds.

Estimated net shipments of Aluminum Sheet and Plate by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 666.5 million pounds during April 2014, off 3.0 percent from the April 2013 total of 686.7 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments declined 3.2 percent from the March 2014 revised total of 688.2 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through April 2014 totaled 2,618.1 million pounds, down 1.9 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 2,670.1 million pounds. Shipments of Can Stock totaled 342.0 million pounds during April 2014, off 10.2 percent from the April 2013 total of 380.7 million pounds, while shipments of Non-heat Treatable Sheet (excluding Can Stock) rose 5.9 percent to 249.7 million pounds and shipments of All Other Sheet and Plate increased 6.6 percent to 74.8 million pounds.