The slowdown in shipments from 2011 levels that has characterized the second half of 2012,resumed in November after a brief pick-up in October.Inventory to sales ratios deteriorated slightly across the board.
US service centers shipped just less than 3.1 million tons of steel products in November 2012.This represents a decrease of 6.4%from November 2011.For 2012,year-to-date steel shipments were just over 38.7 million tons,an increase of 2.5%from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were nearly 8.2 million tons at the end of November 2012,an increase of 0.9%over November a year ago and a decrease of 3.3%from last month.At the current shipping rate,this represents 2.6 months of supply in inventory,an increase of 7.8%from a year ago.
Canadian service centers shipped 495,100 tons of steel products in November 2012.This represents a decrease of 7.4%from November 2011.For 2012,year-to-date steel shipments were approximately 5.8 million tons,a decrease of 1.6%from the same period in 2011.
Steel product inventories were 1.7 million tons at the end of November 2012,an increase of 24.1%from November a year ago and an increase of 1.1%from last month.At the current shipping rate,this represents 3.4 months of supply in inventory,an increase of 34.0%from a year ago.
