The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) reported Thursday that US service center steel shipments in July 2013 increased by 5.3 percent from July 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 1.3 percent from June levels. In June, service center shipments had fallen 4.7 percent from year ago levels and inventories decreased 1 percent from the previous month.
Canadian service centers shipments of steel products in July 2013 decreased 2.4 percent from July 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 1.5 percent from the previous month. Comparatively, shipments in June 2013 decreased 14.6 percent from June 2012 and inventories sunk 7.4 percent.