Steel Mills

Canadian Service Center Shipments Improve by 4% During August

Written by Brett Linton

September 17, 2013

Canadian shipments for all steel products in the month of August were 478,700 net tons, an increase of 4.2 percent from the month before but a decrease of 6.8 percent from August 2012. Inventories at the end of the month stood at 1,388,800 tons, a decrease of 5.0 percent from last month and a decrease of 14.4 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for August was 19,285 tons (21 day month), down from 19,895 tons the month before (22 day month). August receipts were 32,400 tons lower than July totals. According to the MSCI, total months on hand stood at 2.9 months on both an unadjusted and seasonally-adjusted basis.

Flat Rolled

Canadian shipments of flat rolled products for the month of August were 247,300 tons, an increase of 4.3 percent from the month before but a decrease of 3.3 percent from August 2012. Inventories at the end month were 757,200 tons, a decrease of 7.7 percent from last month and a decrease of 13.8 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily receipt rate for August was 8,803 tons, down from 9,070 tons the month before. Total tons received were 184,500, down from 199,200 the month before. Flat rolled inventories stood at 3.1 months on both an unadjusted and seasonally-adjusted basis.

Plate

Canadian shipments for plate products in the month of August were 87,500 tons, an increase of 0.6 percent from the month before but a decrease of 11.7 percent from August 2012. Inventories at the month were 254,900 tons, a decrease of 3.7 percent from last month and a decrease of 20.1 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for August was 3,725 tons, down from 4,657 tons the month before. Plate inventories stood at 2.9 months unadjusted or 2.8 months on a SA basis.

Pipe and Tube

Canadian shipments for pipe and tube products in the month of August were 51,700 tons, an increase of 3.6 percent from the month before but a decrease of 11.6 percent from August 2012. Inventories at the end of the month were 128,300 tons, a decrease of 1.5 percent from last month and a decrease of 7.6 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for August was 2,403 tons, up from 2,240 tons the month before. Pipe and tube inventories stood at 2.5 months on both an unadjusted and seasonally-adjusted basis.

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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