Consumption trends

摘要

US copper wirerod consumption slipped by 3 percent in the first half of 2005. After a particularly leak firs quarter, which saw apparent consumption slump by almost 6 percent, demand levelled out in Q2 as the excessive pace of de-stocking, order deferral and substitution (which took place through the early part of the year), eased. Meanwhile, wirerod shipments have been hit by the ongoing strike at Asarco, which has affected production at several rod mills including their own at Amarillo. The latest available data indicates that shipments slumped by over 10 percent year on year in July, after declining 7.9 percent during HI 2005. Importers continue to capture market share, and imports have risen by almost 50 percent in HI and now account for around 18 percent of consumption, compared to 12 percent in HI 2004.