Aluminum shipments declined by 4% in the US but grew by 1% in Canada. Inventory to sales ratios were virtually unchanged for both metals in both countries.

US Service Center Activity

128.9 thousand tons of aluminum products were shipped by US Service Centers in June, a decrease of 4.0% from the same month in 2011. For 2012 year to date aluminum shipments were 793.1 thousand tons, an increase of 3.9% from the same period in 2011.

Inventories of Aluminum products were 376.9 thousand tons at the end of June, 2012, an increase of 7.3% over June a year ago and a decrease of 2.3% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.9 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 11.9% from a year ago.

Canadian Service Center Activity

13.5 thousand tons of aluminum products were shipped by Canadian Service Centers in June, an increase of 1.1% from the same month in 2011. For 2012 year-to-date, aluminum shipments were 83.4 thousand tons, an increase of 11.9% from the same period in 2011.

Inventories of Aluminum products were 36.7 thousand tons at the end of June, 2012, an increase of 14.6% from June a year ago and an increase of 1.6% from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.7 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 13.4% from a year ago.