The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Tuesday that for the month of November 2006, shipments from
US steel mills were down 8.4 percent from October, and down 7.8 percent from November 2005.
November 2006 steel shipments totaled 7,991,000 net tons (nt) compared to 8,665,000 nt shipped in November 2005 and 8,725,000 nt shipped in October 2006.
According to AISI, a year-to-year comparison of year-to-date shipments, i.e. for Jan-Nov 2006 compared to Jan-Nov 2005, shows the following changes within the major market classifications: service centers and distributors, up 2.7 percent;
automotive, up 8.5 percent;
construction and contractors' products, up 11.4 percent; oil and gas, up 17.5 percent; machinery, industrial equipment and tools, up 5.9 percent; appliances, utensils and cutlery, down 5.8 percent; containers, packaging and shipping materials, up 1.1 percent; and electrical equipment, up 16.5 percent.
AISI is comprised of 32 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 125 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry, representing over 75 percent of the US and North American steel industries.