Aluminum Association updates on North American Downstream Market

The Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products” for August was down 2.4 percent from July. Orders for flat roll products (sheet, plate, can stock and foil) declined 1.9 percent over the previous month, orders for extruded products were down 4.0 percent, while orders for redraw rod were off 2.7 percent. Compared to August 2013, total orders increased 2.4 percent . On average, orders recorded by domestic producers through August 2014 were essentially flat compared to last year. Excluding domestic can stock, year-to-date orders are up 3.3 percent over last year.

Shipments of can stock totaled 377.9 million pounds during August 2014, up 3.5 percent over the August 2013 total of 365.1 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose nine-tenths of one percent over the July 2014 total of 374.6 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through August 2014 totaled 2,869.1 million pounds, off 4.6 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 3,008.0 million pounds. Compared to August 2013, shipments of can stock to U.S. markets increased 7.0 percent to 314.8 million pounds while exports decreased 11.0 percent to 63.2 million pounds.

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Foil by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 88.8 million pounds during August 2014, down 2.7 percent from the August 2013 total of 91.3 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose eight-tenths of one percent over the July 2014 total of 88.1 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through August 2014 totaled 689.4 million pounds, off 1.8 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 701.9 million pounds.