Report shows a steady rise in aluminium export from North America in 2018; domestic semi-finished orders on the rise

According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, the “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products” for October 2018 increased 8.6 percent over September 2018. Compared to October 2017, total orders rose 8.3 percent YoY. Orders for both flat roll products (sheet, plate, can stock and foil) and extruded products registered a rise in October indicating more business for domestic producers.

Orders for both flat roll products were up 8.8 percent over the previous month, while orders for extruded products increased 9.8 percent. Only orders for redraw rod were down by 1.6 percent. On average, orders recorded by domestic producers from January to October 2018 were up 4.6 percent over YTD 2017.

On the other hand imports of aluminium ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) were down 1.5 percent from the September 2017 to 321,143 tonnes in September 2018.

Including scrap, which accounted for roughly 53.3 percent of reported aluminum exports in September, exports totaled 270,795 tonnes, up 7.1 percent over a year ago. Excluding scrap, exports totaled 126,552 tonnes, up 5.5 percent YoY. Through the third quarter of 2018, imports were down 6.6 percent to 3.1 million tonnes, while exports were up 13.1 percent to 2.4 million tonnes. We get to see a steady upward trend in export from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) to other countries.