According to a release this week from the Metals Service Center Institute, monthly shipments of steel in both the United States and Canada began 2014 with small gains or losses from January 2013. However, inventory levels were improved from December.
US service center steel shipments in January 2014 increased by 0.1 percent from January 2013. Steel product inventories decreased 2.1 percent from January a year ago but increased 2.2 percent from last month.
Canadian service centers shipments of steel products in January 2014 decreased by 5.2 percent from January 2013. Steel product inventories decreased 20.5 percent from January a year ago.