Apparent aluminium consumption in North America up 1.4% in the first three Qs of 2019, demand off slightly

According to the preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 9.6 million tonnes from January to September 2019, a slight decrease over YTD 2018.

Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and Canada totalled 7 million tonnes though September 2019, up 1.3 per cent YoY. Demand for semis stood at an estimated 737,541 tonnes in September, off 1.9 per cent over September 2018. Shipments of aluminium sheet and plate stood at 427,284 tonnes in September, up 3.3 per cent YoY. Extruded product shipments declined 6.8 per cent YoY to 206,385 tonnes. Estimated shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and other uses stood at 253,105 tonnes in September, down 18 per cent YoY.

Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic U.S. and Canadian markets totalled 914,442 tonnes in September, down 2 per cent from September 2018. Through the first three quarters of 2019, apparent consumption in domestic markets stood at an estimated 8.5 million tonnes, up 1.4 per cent YoY.

Exports of aluminium ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totalled 1 million tonnes through the third quarter of 2019, off 12.2 per cent from YTD 2018. Imports increased 1per cent to 3 million tonnes. Producer inventories totalled 1.6 million tonnes in September, a slight decrease from the August 2019.  Compared to a year ago, producer inventories were up an estimated 5.2 per cent.