Aluminum mill product use ends five-year growth pattern
By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 2/14/2008 2:00:00 AM
Consumption of aluminum mill products dropped by an estimated 7% in 2007, according to annualized-data calculations of Aluminum Association and Commerce Department data. Key indicator: Preliminary review of January-November market statistics shows that shipments of sheet and plate were down 5.1% from the year-earlier 11-month total of 8.34 billion lbs. Shipments of aluminum drawing stock, bare wire and rod and bar of 1.1 billion lbs were off 4.3% from 1.15 billion lbs. Aluminum foil shipments of 1.17 billion lbs were down 6.8% from 1.25 billion lbs. Shipments of aluminum extruded products (extruded shapes, pipe and tube, and rod and bar) totaled 3.36 billion lbs, down 16.5% from 4.02 billion lbs. Aluminum electrical conductor shipments of 688 million lbs was down 8.3% from 750 million lbs in 2006.
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