The US service center shipments of both steel and aluminum were higher in December 2014 when compared to the previous year. Year-to-date US steel shipments were higher than 2013 by 4.2 percent while year-to-date US aluminum shipments were up 8.1percent year over year. Canadian results for December 2014 were similar.
In December 2014, US service center steel shipments increased by 6.3 percent from December 2013. Steel product inventories increased 18.3 percent from December a year ago. At the current shipping rate, this represents an increase of 11.3 percent from a year ago.