LONDON — North American aluminum orders last month fell 10.3 percent from October, with foil and can sheet experiencing the biggest declines, according to a research note from Davenport & Co. LLC based on seasonally adjusted figures from the Aluminum Association.

November foil orders slid 18.2 percent from October, while orders for can sheet fell 16.7 percent. Orders for extruded shapes declined 4.6 in the same comparison, and sheet and plate orders dipped 4.7 percent.

Richmond, Va.-based Davenport said that Hurricane Sandy, in addition to service centers destocking and typical seasonality, likely contributed to the decline.

"We’re mindful that (Sandy) could have impacted orders in October and November," Davenport analyst Tim Hayes told AMM. "Say you’re a fabricator and you’re out for a week because of the storm, so you didn’t order any extrusions for a couple of weeks. Then you have to play catch-up."

The "ongoing, lackluster economic recovery" also was a headwind, the research note said.