U.S. aluminium demand up in the beginning of 2015

Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 4,133 million pounds during the first two months of 2015, up 2.9 percent over a year ago. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 2,900 million pounds, up 11.8 percent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 3,693 million pounds, increasing 8.1 percent year-to-date.

Shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled an estimated 420.3 million pounds during March 2015, a rise of 8.5 percent over the March 2014 total of 387.2 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments increased 12.2 percent over the February 2015 revised total of 374.4 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through March 2015 totaled 1,185.9 million pounds, up 8.9 percent over the 2014 year-to-date total of 1,089.0 million pounds.

Shipments of primary aluminum by North American (U.S. and Canada) producers totaled 1,091 thousand metric tonnes (kmt) in the first quarter of 2015, down 3.5 percent from the first quarter 2014 total of 1,130 kmt. Shipments of primary billet were down 2.0 percent year-over-year, while shipments of foundry ingot decreased 2.9 percent during the same period. Compared to the previous quarter, total shipments of primary aluminum decreased 4.1 percent from 1,138 thousand tonnes. Revised producer shipments for 2014 totaled 4,571.6 thousand tonnes, off 5.1 percent from the 2013 total of 4,814.9 thousand tonnes.