The U.S. Census Bureau reported that; new orders for durable goods orders increased by 0.6% month on month, (m/m) in October, following the 1.4% decrease in September. The always-volatile nondefense aircraft orders, increasing 10.7% m/m and down 38.5% y/y influenced this trend significantly.

Fabricated Beam final imports to the U.S. were down 25% YoY, and up 11% MoM in July 2019, coming in at 39,655 tons. There are four HTS codes considered in this report. These include: Bridge/Bridge Section, Fabricated Structural – Other, Fabricated Beams and Fabricated Beams – Other.

The total number of operating rigs in the U.S. the week as of September 27^th was 713 oil and 146 gas (totaling 860). In percentage terms, on a month on month, (m/m) basis, oil rigs were down 3.9% and gas down 9.9%.

The total tonnage for the week ending September 14^th was 1,811 million tons, (Mt) at a capacity utilization rate of 77.9%. The year to date tonnage output is 69,983 Mt, at an average capacity utilization rate of 81.1%. In 2018, the same output total was 64,240 Mt at 76.3%.

The total number of operating rigs in the U.S. the week as of August 16^th was 770 oil and 165 gas (totaling 935). In percentage terms, on a month on month, (m/m) basis, oil rigs were down 1.2% and gas down 5.2%.

Merchant final imports to the U.S. came in at 23,302 tons in June 2019, down 8.0% month over month (MoM), and up 9.5% year over year (YoY)