North American aluminum demand rises 6% through July: association

Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the US and Canada -- shipments by domestic producers plus imports -- totaled an estimated 12.317 billion lb during the first seven months of 2011, 6% above the same period of 2010, according to the Aluminum Association.

Demand for semi-fabricated, or mill, products was up 3.8% to a total of 8.602 billion lb in the same period. Year-to-date, apparent consumption -- demand less exports -- in domestic markets totaled an estimated 10.028 billion lb, 2.5% above the previous year.

Exports of aluminum ingot and mill products from the US and Canada -- excluding cross-border trade -- totaled 2.289 billion lb through July, 24.6% above last year, while imports totaled 2.230 million lb, up 1.9%.

Demand for aluminum semi-fabricated products in the US and Canada totaled an estimated 1.215 billion lb in July, off 2.8% over the July 2010 total of 1.250 billion lb. Aluminum sheet and plate demand totaled 737 million lb in July, down 0.7%, while extruded products declined 11.7% to 253 million lb.

Estimated shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and other uses totaled 320 million lb, up 9.8% over last year. Apparent consumption in domestic US and Canada markets totaled 1.356 million lb in June, decreasing 4% from the July 2010 total of 1.413 billion lb.

Producer inventories totaled 2.483 billion lb in July, rising 3.7% over the June total of 2.394 billion lb. Compared with a year ago, producer inventories were up 11.1%.