North American aluminum demand edges up slightly y/y in January 2015

The latest statistics released by the Aluminum Association indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 2,124 million pounds in January 2015, up one-tenth of one percent over a year ago. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 1,487 million pounds, up 10.1 percent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 1,912 million pounds, increasing 7.9 percent.

Exports of aluminum ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 212 million pounds in January, down 39.5 percent from last year, while imports were up 17.6 percent to 477 million pounds.

Aluminum imports of ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 527 million pounds during January 2015, up 21.7 percent over the January 2014 total of 433 million pounds. Including scrap, which accounted for 52 percent of reported aluminum exports, exports totaled 437 million pounds in January, down 32.3 percent from a year ago. Excluding scrap, exports totaled 212 million pounds, down 39.5 percent from last year. Exports of scrap were down 23.7 percent year-over-year. In 2014, preliminary total imports rose 20.2 percent to 5,513 million pounds while exports were off 6.2 percent to 7,405 million pounds.

(Statistics are derived from customs data released by the U.S. and Canadian governments.)