Fourth straight year of growth in North America

Aluminium demand in North America has risen by 31 percent since 2009, reports the U.S. Aluminum Association. The increase includes growth in the key market segments, including transportation.

All the figures are included in the Association’s latest Aluminum Statistical Review, which was released on October 15. The report includes information on “every cycle of the aluminum production process” in the United States and Canada, from primary aluminium to the recovery of aluminium scrap.

The Association writes that “this year’s review shows continued growth in demand for the metal and positive trend lines in many key market sectors.” Its key findings include:

• 4.6 percent higher shipments to the transportation segment, compared to 2012
• 0.9 percent higher shipments for building and construction applications
• 1.5 percent higher shipments of semi-fabricated or mill products

In 2013, according to the report, the industry “shipped more than 24 billion pounds of metal for the first time since before the recession. Demand is up nearly one-third (31 percent) overall since 2009 and is approaching record-setting levels not seen since the mid-2000s.

“Demand in the building and construction sector has grown nearly 11 percent since 2009 while the transportation market has grown an unprecedented 75 percent during the same time period.”