Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
March 10, 2014
For our Premium Level members – we should have a special Premium Supplemental newsletter for you by Wednesday afternoon. In it will be an article on currency values and changes and their impact on the market as well as our imports by product, port and country. We will be including slabs in our import by port report. We also will have a special report on net imports by Peter Wright.
We are looking for price providers for plate products. If you would be interested in becoming a price provider please contact me at: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
Our next Steel 101 workshop is about 60 percent sold out. We do have spots available but we recommend that those interested not wait until the last minute. Based on past experiences we believe the tour of the Severstal Dearborn facility will be tremendous and help our attendees better understand the steelmaking process and learn more about Severstal as a steel supplier. As with all of our programs this one promises to have a very diverse group of attendees with manufacturing, service centers, logistics, mill people and others associated with the industry participating. The networking is an important part of the program. You can learn more about the workshop in the Events section of our website.
I hope to be able to unveil our next Managing Price Risk 2: Strategies & Execution workshop which we are trying to have ready for late April/May in Chicago. More on this soon.
I was speaking with a couple of metals and mining analysts earlier today. One of the questions on their minds was: How can the flat rolled mills be running at approximately 90 percent of capacity and steel not be able to have any pricing power? The question was asked of ArcelorMittal during their investor conference in New York City yesterday (Monday) and the only response was “foreign imports.” We heard that the mill does not anticipate closing any of their facilities – even with the acquisition of the TK Calvert facility (AM/NS Calvert).
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update. Keep in touch with us by asking questions. You care welcome to let us know what you are thinking and what questions you may have for us: info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or you can send them directly to me: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
John Packard, Publisher
Special offer for new subscribers during March – contact JohnTemples@SteelMarketUpdate.com or Ryan@SteelMarketUpdate.com for more details.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Despite some scary headlines lately (especially about Trump potentially firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell) this is not October 2008 (financial crisis) or March 2020 (onset of the pandemic). But it sure seems like we’ve taken a relatively strong economy and poured a thick sauce of uncertainty over it.

Final Thoughts
I put some of our survey data through ChatGpt, with interesting results.

Final Thoughts
Nearly 50% of respondents to our latest survey thought hot-rolled coil prices have already peaked. And where will those prices be two months from now? Responses were decidedly split on that question.

Final Thoughts
A modest week-to-week change in HR price understates a huge swing in expectations.

Final Thoughts
What happens when ChatGPT meets SMU's Market Chatter? No, this is not an idea for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Then again, with what Hollywood is putting out these days, Chatter Meets Chat might just turn out to be a hit. Rather, it’s that old idea of putting theory into practice. Recently, I conducted an interview with Doug Schrock, managing principal of AI at public accounting and consulting firm Crowe. He gave some tips on how to implement AI into your business.