Steel Mills

Steel Service Center Shipments and Inventories Rise

Written by Brett Linton

May 16, 2014

US steel service centers shipments for all steel products during the month of April were 3,087,300 net tons, an increase of 3.6 percent from the March shipments, and an increase of 4.9 percent from April 2013 levels. Steel inventories at the end of the month were 8,617,500 tons, an increase of 4.3 percent from the month before, and an increase of 3.7 percent from the same month last year. The daily average steel receipt rate for April was 198,051 tons per day (21 day month), up from 160,154 tons per day from the prior month (also a 21 day month). Total April steel receipts were 796,100 tons higher than the March figure. According to the Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI), total months on hand stood at 2.3 months unadjusted or 2.4 months on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis.

Flat Rolled

US shipments of flat rolled products for the month of April were 2,495,300 tons, an increase of 3.5 percent from the month before, and an increase of 6.3 percent from the same month one year ago. Inventories at the end of the month were 5,344,500 tons, an increase of 6.3 percent from last month, and an increase of 6.3 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily receipt rate for April was 133,940 tons, up from 100,540 tons the month before. Total tonnage received for the month was 2,813,300, up from 2,111,700 the month before. Flat rolled inventories stood at 2.1 months unadjusted or 2.3 months on a SA basis.

Plate

US shipments for plate products in the month of April were 379,800 tons, an increase of 4.3 percent from the month before, and an increase of 3.1 percent from April 2013. Inventories at the end of the month were 952,600 tons, a decrease of 1.4 percent from last month, and a decrease of 3.1 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for April was 17,435 tons, up from 16,878 tons the month before. Plate inventories stood at 2.5 months unadjusted or 2.7 months on a SA basis.

Pipe and Tube

US shipments for pipe and tube products in the month of April were 243,000 tons, an increase of 2.3 percent from the month before, and an increase of 2.6 percent from April 2013. Inventories at the end of the month were 657,500 tons, an increase of 0.6 percent from last month, but a decrease of 3.0 percent from the same month one year ago. The daily average receipt rate for April was 11,745 tons, up from 11,265 tons the month before. Pipe and tube inventories stood at 2.7 months unadjusted or 2.8 months on a SA 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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