North American distributors post double-digit month-to-month increases in metal shipment rates

U.S. steel shipments +9.7% year/year;
aluminum +21.6% year/year
Canada steel shipments up 15.2% year/year;
aluminum up 20.4% year/year


Service centers supply a significant volume of steel and aluminum products consumed by machine shops and fabricators, whose activities reflect overall industrial activity in North America.
North America’s metal service centers increased their steel shipment totals during March, and U.S. centers raised their aluminum shipments as well. Meanwhile, service centers in both the U.S. and Canada managed to lighten their inventory totals during the month. These are among the results of the latest Monthly Activity Report issued by the Metals Service Center Institute, an account of shipment and inventory volumes for service centers in the U.S. and Canada.

Service center shipments correspond to a substantial volume of the metals consumed by machine shops, fabricators, and other manufacturers, and the activities at those operations are a indicator of industrial activity in the North America.