Metalnewsnet 20 May ：

The Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute shows that shipments of steel from metals service centers in the United States and Canada in April maintained the upward momentum that has been building this year.

In the United States, steel shipment growth remained at nearly the same high level established in March 2010 and the rate of growth in Canadian shipments dipped from March, but year to date shipments still increased from 2009.

US metals service centers shipped 3 million tons of steel in April 2010 or 22.3% YoY more than during April 2009. That brought YTD shipments to about 11.5 million tons or 13.9%YoY more than during the same period last year. US service center steel inventories at the end of April totaled 6.7 million tons, about 5.6% YoY lower and at current shipping rates equal to a 2.2 month supply.

April steel shipments from Canadian service centers of 492,600 tonnes were 9.2% YoY higher than in April 2009 and brought YTD shipments to about 1.9 million tonnes, a 12.5% YoY rise from last year's period. Canadian steel inventories of 1.4 million tonnes were 17.1% larger than at the same time last year and equal to a 2.8 month supply at current shipping rates.

The Metals Activity Report, based on data from metals service centers in the United States and Canada, is produced by the Metals Service Center Institute and a third-party econometrics and strategy firm, McCoy, Scott & Co.

(from steelguru)