Steel Products
Durable Goods Orders and Shipments Rise in December
Written by Sandy Williams
January 30, 2013
Written by: Sandy Williams
New orders and shipments for manufactured durable goods both rose in December. New orders increased $10 billion or 4.6 percent to $230.7 billion, rising for the fourth consecutive month according to figures released by the Department of Commerce. New orders have been up seven of the last eight months, with transportation equipment showing the largest increase, $8.1 billion or 11.9 percent to $75.9 billion.
Shipments have been up five of the last six months and increased 1.3 percent to $230.6 billion. Primary metals had the largest increase, up 4.2 percent to $30.7 billion.
Unfilled orders for manufactured goods increased 0.8 percent in December to $992 billion. Transportation equipment drove the increase in unfulfilled orders, up 1.6 percent to 588.8 billion.
Inventories fell for the first time in 14 months by $0.1 billion to $374.5 billion. Machinery led the increase with a drop of $0.4 billion to $66.1 billion.
Capital Goods in December for nondefense goods rose by 3.8 percent to $73.8 billion. Shipments increased 0.7 percent to $71.9 billion. Unfilled orders rose 0.3 percent to $585.7 billion. Inventories for nondefense capital goods decreased 0.3 percent to $173 billion.
Defense new orders for capital goods surged in December by 110.4 percent to $16.5 billion. Shipments rose 6.1 percent to $9.1 billion. Unfilled orders rose 4.6 percent to $171.5 billion. Inventories of defense capital goods fell 1.4 percent to $21.2 billion.
DOC reported revised seasonally adjusted figures for November for all manufacturing industries: new orders, $477.4 billion (revised from $477.6 billion); shipments, $484.3 billion (revised from $483.7 billion); unfilled orders, $983.9
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products
Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.
U.S. Steel to halt slab conversion at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]
SMU Week in Review: September 1-5
Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on.
HR Futures: Market finds footing on supply-side mechanics
As Labor Day marks the transition into fall, the steel market enters September with a similar sense of change. Supply-side fundamentals are beginning to show signs of restraint: imports are limited, outages loom, and production is capped, setting the stage for a market that feels steady on the surface but still unsettled underneath.
Beige Book: US markets remain cautious amidst volatile pricing environment
Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report. The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]