universal stainless  alloy products inc said its thirdquarter sales to the aerospace market rose 44 from the second quarter and it expects airplane construction travel growth and defense spending to accelerate the pull of metal through the supply chain on its third quarter universal stainless shipped 6144 tons up from 6046 tons in the third quarter of 2020 inventory totaled 1356 million at the end of the quarter compared with 1209 million in the yearago period the increase in inventory in the most recent quarter reflects higher raw material prices robust raw material purchases to mitigate supply disruptions and increased work in process to support backlog growth the bridgeville pa company said the company estimates that sales in its largest end market aerospace fell 11 from the yearago period our third quarter aerospace sales increased 44 sequentially and represented 60 of total sales said chairman president and chief executive dennis oates the aerospace market is continuing to recover driven by further improvement in commercial air travel and ongoing defense spending mr oates said aerospace was also the main driver of our third quarter bookings growth delivery of these products is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter and continue into the first half of 2022 and beyond projected airplane buildrate increases continued travel growth and reasonable defense spending next year will accelerate the pull of metal through the supply chain he said our sales to the oil  gas market also increased from the second quarter rising 26 and represented 11 of sales with oil prices at a sevenyear high and natural gas prices up about 50 in the third quarter alone drilling activity is poised for further recovery mr oates said oil and gas sales climbed 47 according to universal stainlesss estimates the growth in aerospace and oil and gas sales was offset by lower sales in the balance of our end markets versus the second quarter mr oates said heavy equipment market sales were off 18 sequentially but were 63 higher than the third quarter last year as plate demand demonstrated its typical volatility despite the ongoing recovery in industrial businesses heavy equipment remained our second largest market he said powergeneration sales slid 47 while sales for the general industrial market fell 27 according to the companys estimates sales to the power generation and general industrial markets also were lower following strong sequential improvement in the second quarter mr oates said while current supply chain challenges will likely persist we remain determined to make further progress in the fourth quarter and take full advantage of our recovering markets especially aerospace as we move into 2022 mr oates said