Steel Products
U.S. Service Centers Show Growth in 2012 – Canadians Not So Much
Written by John Packard
January 18, 2013
U.S. distributors grew annual shipments by 1.81 percent (all products) according to Metal Service Center Institute data during calendar year 2012. Shipments totaled 41,447,900 tons.
Flat rolled shipments also rose during 2012 totaling 26,378,900 tons which represents an improvement of 2.39 percent over the previous year. Plate shipments were up by 2 percent, while pipe and tube rose by 2.14 percent.
Canadian Service Center Shipments Decline on all but Plate
Canadian distributors did not fare as well as their southern counterparts as total steel shipments declined from 6,289,100 tons in 2011 to 6,114,600 tons (-2.77 percent) during 2012.
Carbon flat rolled led the decline slipping by 9.23 percent to 3,053,600 tons. Pipe and tube slid 1.55 percent to 685,300 tons. Plate did show a sizeable improvement rising by 9.47 percent to 1,192,800 tons from 1,089,600.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products
SMU Community Chat replay now available
The latest SMU Community Chat webinar reply is now available on our website to all members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the community tab and look under the “previous webinars” section of the dropdown menu. All past Community Chat webinars are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the webinar replay, or if your company […]
SSAB announces $74M expansion in Alabama
The project will expand heat treat capacity at its Axis, Alabama plant
Service centers: Mill orders retreat in March
SMU’s Mill Order Index declined in March after repeated gains at the start of the year, according to our latest service center inventories data.
Nucor maintains plate prices
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat with the opening of its June order book.
US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.