The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) reported Tuesday that US service centers shipped approximately 3 million tons of steel products in September 2012. This represents a decrease of 9.5 percent from September 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, steel shipments were more than 32.1 million tons, an increase of 3.3 percent from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were approximately 8.8 million tons at the end of September 2012, an increase of 3.1 percent over September a year ago and a decrease of 2.1 percent from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.8 months of supply in inventory.
Canadian service centers shipped 469,900 tons of steel products in September 2012. This represents a decrease of 15.6 percent from September 2011. Year-to-date, 2012 steel shipments were nearly 4.8 million tons, a decrease of 1 percent from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 1.6 million tons at the end of September 2012, an increase of 4.2 percent from September a year ago and an increase of 0.5 percent from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.5 months of supply in inventory.