Due to aluminum’s low weight and durability, an initial estimate of the alloy’s demand in Canada and the United States for the first quarter of 2012 totalled 5.8 million lb (2.6 million kg)—a 7.5 per cent increase over last year’s first quarter.
Heidi Brock, Aluminum Association (AA) president, said people are turning to the material for new and innovative applications, and the North American industry is now growing to meet the demand.
Additionally, electrical wire and cable used in buildings applications and electrical transmission has increased 28.8 per cent for the first four months of 2012.
“The rise in demand is related to growth in automotive, electrical transmission, and manufacturing equipment sectors,” AA’s James Lewis told Construction Canada Online. “Some growth can be seen in the recovering building and construction market too, but it is far too early to see if that growth is sustained.”
Other industry findings include:
• a significant increase was seen in demand for semi-fabricated or mill products, which rose 7.9 per cent over the first quarter of 2011;
• total demand for semi-fabricated products climbed 5.4 percent over March 2011;
• a three per cent and 12.7 per cent rise was seen in March’s demand for sheet and plate and extruded products;
• Canadian aluminum production grew slightly in April after slipping in January and February from a two-year continuous upward momentum; and
• annual primary production in April 2012 increased by 2056 tonnes over March 2012’s rate.
