North American aluminum demand for January-July up 6.9%

Aluminum demand in the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 13.467 billion lb during the first seven months of 2012, according to preliminary estimates from the Aluminum Association. That is up 6.9% over the same period last year.

Demand for semifabricated (mill) products was up 6.5% to a total of 9.159 billion lb. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 11.229 billion lb through July, up 8.7%.

Exports of aluminum ingot and mill products from the US and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 2.238 billion lb through July, down 1.4% from last year, while imports have increased 21.9% to 2.719 billion lb.

The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminum Association of Canada, reported that primary aluminum production in North America (US and Canada) was at an annual rate of 4,745,556 mt during August, falling 1.9% from the previous month's rate of 4,838,496 mt. Compared with a year ago, the annual rate of production was down 4.8%. During the first eight months of 2012, primary aluminum production has declined 2% from 2011 to a total of 3,210,005 mt.

Demand for aluminum semifabricated (mill) products in the US and Canada (measured in shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 1.309 million lb in July, up 8.1% over the July 2011 total of 1.212 billion lb.

Aluminum sheet and plate demand totaled 779 million lb in July, up 6.1% from a year before, while extruded products were up 12.3% year over year to 284 million lb.

Estimated shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and other uses totaled 515.6 million lb, up 3.1% over the last year. Apparent consumption in domestic US and Canada markets totaled 1.527 billion lb in July, increasing 8.6% over the July 2011 total of 1.406 billion lb.

Producer inventories totaled 2.516 billion lb in July, up 4% from the June level of 2.420 billion lb. Compared with a year ago, producer inventories were up 2.7%.

The US aluminum industry purchased an estimated 802 million lb of aluminum scrap during July, according to aluminum recycling statistics published by the US Geological Survey. That is up 15.4% over the July 2011 total of 694 million lb.

USGS estimated that recovery of aluminum and aluminum alloys totaled 641 million lb in July, 13.5% ahead of last year. During the first seven months of 2012, preliminary data indicated that recovery of aluminum from scrap totaled an estimated 4.416 million lb, up 13.5% over the same period of 2011.

US exports of scrap, not included in the government's consumption statistics, totaled 2.660 million lb year to date, up 5% over 2011.