(10-16-17)
September shipments were flat on a year-over-year basis except for a small increase in U.S. aluminum shipments. U.S. steel inventories increased on a year-over-year basis for the first time since August of 2015. U.S. Service Center Activity: U.S. service center steel shipments in September 2017 were essentially unchanged from September 2016. Steel product inventories increased 2.4% from September a year ago. U.S. service center shipments of aluminum products in September increased by 3.5% from the same month in 2016. Inventories of aluminum products increased 2.3% from September a year ago. Canadian Service Center Activity: Canadian service center shipments of steel products in September 2017 decreased by 3.8% from September 2016. Steel product inventories increased 4.2% from September a year ago and decreased 1.7% from last month. Canadian service center aluminum shipments in September decreased 5.5% from the same month in 2016. Inventories of aluminum products increased 0.6% from September a year ago.