Steel Mills

Canadian Service Center Shipments Up 14.5 Percent

Written by Brett Linton

June 17, 2017

Steel shipments by Canadian service centers in May totaled 415,000 net tons, up 14.5 percent from the previous month and up 6.8 percent from May 2016, reports the Metals Service Center Institute. On a daily rate basis, total shipments were 18,900 tons per day in May (a 22-day month), down from 19,100 tons per day in April (a 19-day month), but up compared to a year ago when they were 18,500 tons per day (in a 21-day month). Total steel inventories at the end of the month were 1,109,700 tons, down 2.9 percent from last month and down 3.5 percent from this time last year.

The daily average receipt rate for May was 17,345 tons per day, down from 17,921 tons per day in April. Total May steel receipts were 381,600 tons, up 41,100 tons over April. According to the MSCI, total steel product inventories stood at 2.7 months at the end of May, down from 3.2 months the month before.

Flat Rolled

Canadian shipments of flat rolled products for the month of May were 220,700 tons, up 13.6 percent from April but down 4.9 percent from the same month one year ago. Daily shipments decreased from 10,200 tons per day in April to 10,000 tons per day this month, and were down from one year ago when they were 11,100 tons per day. Inventories at the end of the month were 662,800 tons, down 6.4 percent from last month and down 1.9 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily receipt rate for May was 7,959 tons per day, down from 8,858 tons per day in April. Total tonnage received was 175,100 tons, down from 168,300 tons the month before. Flat rolled inventories stood at 3.0 months in May, down from 3.6 months of supply in April.

Plate

Canadian shipments of plate products in May were 77,500 tons, an increase of 19.0 percent from the previous month and an increase of 7.7 percent from May 2016. Daily shipments increased from 3,400 tons per day last month to 3,500 tons per day in May. Inventories at the end of the month were 163,900 tons, up 1.5 percent from last month but down 17.1 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for May was 3,636 tons per day, up from 3,258 tons per day the month before. Plate inventories ended the month at 2.1 months, down from 2.5 months the month before.

Pipe and Tube

Canadian shipments of pipe and tube products in May were 55,300 tons, an increase of 7.6 percent from the month before and an increase of 32.5 percent from the same month last year. Daily shipments fell from 2,700 tons per day in April to 2,500 tons per day in May. Inventories at the end of the month were 116,900 tons, up 3.6 percent from last month but down 8.7 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for May was 2,700 tons per day, down from 2,826 tons per day the month before. Total months on hand for pipe and tube inventories stood at 2.1 months, down from 2.2 months in April.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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