The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) reported Monday that US steel service center shipped 3.6 million tons of steel products in January 2013, representing a decrease of 2.1 percent from January 2012. Steel product inventories were 8.7 million tons at the end of January 2013, a decrease of 0.4 percent over January a year ago and an increase of 2.2 percent from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 2.4 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 1.8 percent from a year ago.
Canadian service centers shipped 522,300 tons of steel products in January 2013. This represents a decrease of 6.9 percent from January 2012. Steel product inventories were nearly 1.8 million tons at the end of January 2013, an increase of 5.7 percent from January a year ago and a decrease of 3.2 percent from last month. At the current shipping rate, this represents 3.4 months of supply in inventory, an increase of 13.5 percent from a year ago.