Aluminum Association updates on North America’s downstream market

According to an Aluminum Association report shipments of all major aluminium products declined in the month of December.

Shipments of can stock by domestic producers totaled 345.5 million pounds during December 2015, off 1.1 percent from the December 2014 total of 349.4 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose 3.3 percent over the November 2015 total of 334.4 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for 2015 totaled 4,178.1 million pounds, down 1.7 percent from the 2014 total of 4,250.5 million pounds. Compared to December 2014, producer shipments of can stock to U.S. markets decreased 2.6 percent to 289.9 million pounds while exports increased 7.4 percent to 55.6 million pounds.

Estimated net shipments of Aluminum Sheet and Plate by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 639.7 million pounds during December 2015, off 2.6 percent from the December 2014 total of 656.5 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments declined 1.4 percent from the November 2015 revised total of 648.6 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for 2015 totaled 8,278.6 million pounds, up 1.5 percent over the 2014 total of 8,152.6 million pounds. Shipments of Can Stock totaled 345.5 million pounds during December 2015, down 1.1 percent from the December 2014 total of 349.4 million pounds, while shipments of Non-heat Treatable Sheet (excluding Can Stock) decreased 10.9 percent to 185.6 million pounds and shipments of All Other Sheet and Plate rose 9.9 percent to 108.6 million pounds.

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Foil by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 54.7 million pounds during December 2015, up onetenth of one percent over December 2014. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 20.7 percent from the November 2015 total of 69.0 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for 2015 totaled 930.6 million pounds, down 5.7 percent from the 2014 total of 987.2 million pounds.

Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 87.3 million pounds during December 2015, a decline of 5.0 percent from the December 2014 total of 91.9 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 8.9 percent from the November 2015 total of 95.8 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for 2015 totaled 1,195.3 million pounds, off 4.1 percent from the 2014 total of 1,245.8 million pounds.