Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
March 4, 2015
Steel Market Update just concluded our 5th flat rolled steel market survey earlier today. We have a couple of articles in tonight’s issue associated with our survey results and there will be more on Sunday. Our Premium level members should have access to the latest Power Point presentation on the survey results on our website by late morning on Friday.
I want to welcome our newest members to the Steel Market Update family. I also want to let our newest members know that our office is open to comments and suggestions. We appreciate knowing both what we are doing right as well as what we could do better. I can be reached by email at: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com or on our office phone: 800-432-3475.
We have set a date at the end of April for our next Managing Price Risk workshop. There is quite a bit of interest in futures trading (or in how to hold these lower prices for a longer period of time using futures and options) so we are working on a program focused on some of the issues and opportunities associated with what we are seeing in the market right now (along with the usual protecting of inventory values, margins, etc.). I hope to have the tweaked program ready and online by late next week.
Right now our Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop on May 19 & 20th in the Chicago area is open for registration. You can find details on our website or by clicking on this link. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us in our office: Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
As February comes to a close this week, the scrap markets are poised for another – and perhaps more extreme – move upward in March. March is usually a month when scrap prices relent as winter’s impediments subside. That’s not the case this year. And this time, the driver of prices will be increased demand from mills along with restricted flows over the last two months.

Final Thoughts
The US steel market has whipsawed upward on the prospect of expanded Section 232 tariffs of 25% being applied to imported steel - including downstream goods - on March 12. It seems pretty clear that domestic steel mills have the ear of the Trump administration when it comes to Section 232. The result? The much-anticipated Trump bump has finally arrived - and then some.

Final Thoughts
Some of you have told me that the current market feels about as crazy as early 2021 when demand snapped back after the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Others have said it might be more like late February/early March 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and, in the process, caused […]

Final Thoughts
To say we’ve entered a “Brave New World” since Jan. 20 might be an exaggeration, but we’ve definitely entered a different one.

Final Thoughts
I think it’s fair to say that the last few weeks – and last week especially – have been among the most intense for any of us covering steel (or aluminum).