Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
July 29, 2015
First, I want to thank a number of our readers who went out of their way to compliment Steel Market Update on our coverage of the cold rolled trade case in Tuesday’s issue. My background is such that I have been on both sides of the fence – both at a steel mill and representing trading companies. I have also worked with manufacturers around the country as they struggled to remain competitive in a global economy. Our newsletter will not take sides but we will try to present as many opinions and angles to the story as possible. If you have an opinion that you would like to share you are welcome to send it to me at: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
On Saturday of this week Steel Market Update will begin our 8th year. We incorporated and began officially selling our newsletter and services on August 1, 2008. One of our early customers (and one of my former steel customers) didn’t know what I would write about after the first 30 days… I guess we fooled him! Thank you to everyone who has helped myself and our team keep Steel Market Update running and competing against those that are bigger, stronger and better financed. Your business has been truly appreciated.
It was a little odd seeing Steel Market Update name in print in a legal petition asking for Critical Circumstances by the domestic mills. No one told us ahead of time and I only discovered that we were cited as a source of industry information (worldwide) when I read a copy of the 63 page document. So, any of you out there who are on a trial to our newsletter – if the mill attorney’s believe what we say… well, what are you waiting for? You can register to become our newest member on our website or, you are welcome to contact our offices at 800-432-3475 (706-216-5440).
Are you attending #SteelSummitConference this year? We will have a big announcement early next week. Hint, it has to do with your mobile device…
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
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One of the perhaps unintentional perks of being a trade journalist is the opportunity to travel and cover an array of industry conferences and events. Some I've attended have been at fun locations, like Palm Springs and Tampa, Fla. Others have been in more practical locations, like SMU’s Steel Summit in Atlanta and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) meetings in Washington, D.C.
Final Thoughts
t this point in the game I think what we can say about Nippon Steel’s proposed buy of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel is that it will go through, it won’t go through, or the outcome will be something new and completely unexpected. Then again, I’m probably still missing a few options.
Final Thoughts
President-elect Donald Trump continues to send shockwaves through the political establishment (again). And steel markets and ferrous scrap markets continue to be, well, anything but shocking. As the French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote in 1849, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." (I thought the quote might have been Yankees catcher Yogi Berra in 1949. Google taught me something new today.)