2012 was a banner year for aluminum. Between innovative advances in manufacturing and groundbreaking design usages, along with award-winning vehicles, 2012 showed that demand continued to grow in North America. From industry journal Metal Bulletin (subscription required for the full article and note the foreign spelling of aluminum):
US and Canadian aluminum demand edged up through most of 2012, even as production slipped, according to industry figures compiled by the Aluminum Assn and the Aluminium Assn of Canada.
Demand (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled more than 21.19 billion pounds in the first 11 months of 2012, up 5.7% from nearly 20.04 billion pound the previous year…
Where does that leave us today? The aluminum industry appears to be on an upward path. During Alcoa’s fourth-quarter earnings report, company representatives spoke of a positive projection for the 2013 fiscal year. From 4-Traders:
Among other Dow components, Alcoa gave up a morning advance to slip 0.2% after the aluminum giant reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings that matched estimates and revenue that was well above forecasts. The company also said it expects the pace of aluminum demand growth in 2013 to increase from 2012.
As an industry, this is exciting news. It indicates the quality of the material in an age where designs focus on the right combination of cost, durability, and weight. With January in the books, there’s no reason to think that it won’t be a case of onward and upward for 2013.