According to the data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2015, while in the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.9 percent.
The demand for aluminium in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 19,528 million pounds through September 2015, up 1.4 percent over the same period last year. The demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 13,999 million pounds, up 5.5 percent.
Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 17,380 million pounds, increasing 5.5 percent year-to-date.
Aluminum net shipments (including exports) by domestic U.S. and Canadian facilities totaled an estimated 1,975 million pounds during October, down 1.9 percent from the October 2014 total of 2,013 million pounds. Shipments of aluminum mill products decreased three-tenths of one percent from the previous year to 1,335 million pounds, while shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and destructive uses decreased 4.9 percent year-over-year totaling 640 million pounds.
Preliminary year-to-date producer shipments for 2015 totaled 19,382 million pounds, down 1.1 percent from the 2014 total of 19,604 million pounds. October inventory levels totaled an estimated 2,931 million pounds, up 1.1 percent over the previous month and up 1.3 percent year-over-year.
Statistics Canada report that Canada’s Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) declined five-tenths of one percent in October (110.3), after decreasing four-tenths of one percent in September. The decline in the IPPI was mainly led by lower prices for motorized and recreational vehicles (1.1%), specifically passenger cars and light trucks (1.1%).
Lower prices in this area were closely linked to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. Alumina and aluminum production prices decreased 2.8 percent from September, and are off 5.0 percent from a year ago.
