Manufacturing capacity utilization (MCU), scored a 80.7% in March, up 2.2% month on month, (m/m), its first month over 80% since October of last year. On a year on year (y/y) comparison, the Canadian MCU was down 3.5%. Canadian manufacturing sales increased by 2.1% to $58.0 billion in March 2019. Inventories also saw an increase [...]
Beam final imports to the U.S. were down 19% YoY, and up 34% MoM in March 2019, coming in at 35,035 tons. These include: Angles, Shapes and H Sections, Angles, Shapes and I Sections, Angles H Sections Iron and Non-Alloy Steel Hot-rolled, and Other H Sections. Figure 1 further breaks down total final beam imports from [...]
Rebar final imports to the U.S. were down 20% YoY, and down 5.4% MoM in March 2019, coming in at 100,866 tons. These include: concrete reinforcing bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, in irregularly wound coils hot-rolled, concrete reinforcing bars and rods of other alloy steel, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, [...]
Merchant final imports to the U.S. were down 33% YoY, and up 67% MoM in March 2019, coming in at 26,730 tons. The top five account for 64% of the total intake. These include: Light angles (<3” = 7,508 tons), MBQ (coil >0.75” dia. = 4,372 tons), MBQ (rectangular <0.25 carbon, max cross section <152 [...]
Total number of operating rigs in the U.S. the week as of May 10th was 988, 805 oil and 183 gas. In percentage terms, on a month on month, (m/m) basis, oil rigs were down 0.2%, (-2 rigs) as gas rigs posted no change. On a year on year, (y/y) comparison, rigs were down 4.6% [...]
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), for April 2019 increased 95 points to 775 month on month (m/m), a 14% increase. Looked at on a three month moving average, (3MMA) comparison the BDI fell 2.0% to 695 m/m. On a 3MMA year on year basis, (y/y), the BDI was 31.2% lower. The BDI has averaged 1,201 [...]
On a three month moving average, (3MMA) basis, March total carbon steel shipments averaged 147,286 tons per day, compared to 162,819 tons per day in March 2018 (-9.5 % year on year, (y/y). Figure 1 shows percentage change results for shipments, daily intake and inventory level. In all cases the percentage change references 3MMA y/y. [...]
The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing composite index decreased by 0.6 of a point month on month, (m/m) to 55.5 in April. The indexes remain strong in 2019, up 1.3% 12MMA y/y. The ISM nonmanufacturing survey measures the rate and direction of change in activity in nonmanufacturing industries. Surveys are sent to more than 370 [...]
The Institute of Supply Management’s Index moved down 2.5 points on month, (m/m) to 52.8 for April 2019. This value is an encouraging sign for the manufacturing sector. The index has been greater than 50, (>50 = expansion) for thirty-two consecutive months. The new orders sub-index scored a 51.7. Overall, the ISM manufacturing index is strong [...]
