Final Thoughts

October 27, 2014

This is good. There is a debate going on within the industry regarding the need for a price increase and whether the customers (tail) are wagging the dog (mill).

One buyers ask SMU, “Knowing their history of lacking price discipline…taking advantage of their fear and uncertainty of not filling mill and talking the market down – or at least (mill name removed) down… Would think they [the mill] rather make stock items, or slow production rather than erode the entire market (says the ignorant service center guy).”

Now that AK Steel has announced +$20 the conversation has already started – too little, too early – are they talking out of both sides of their mouth (as buyers reported AK was looking for spot business earlier today)? Will the other mills follow? Will they raise the stakes?

What do you think? You can send me your thoughts on the subject to: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

We have a number of free trial and new members reading our newsletter these days. I want to welcome you and I want to point out a few things that you may not be aware of: We have a Twitter account which is found at @SMUsteel. We also have an active LinkedIn group which is conveniently called: Steel Market Update. We have a facebook page but I prefer to use LinkedIn as it is more business related than facebook.

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Our next Steel 101 workshop is coming up in January (20th and 21st) in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (just outside of Charleston, SC) and at a hotel on the ocean. Details can be found on our website. The workshop will include a tour of Nucor Berkeley. Members receive discounts as part of the value to your subscription ($100 per person) and we have discounts for those companies who want to send more than one person (another $100 per person). Registration is open.

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John Packard, Publisher