Wherever you go, whatever you do, I'll be right here waiting for you…232

Take notice as China comes alive!!!

Since we last met, the June ISM Manufacturing PMI gained a solid 2.9 points to 57.8 and beat consensus expectations of 55.3 by 2.5 points!  The chart below compares the TSI Daily HRC Index with the ISM Manufacturing PMI and it sure looks like the TSI Midwest HRC price needs to play some catch-up.

ISM Manufacturing PMI and TSI Daily Midwest HRC Index

Today, the August LME Turkish scrap future settled at $303/mt while the August SGX iron ore future settled at $63.70/mt.  Since June 1, LME scrap is up 9.4 percent and SGX ore is up 17.5 percent…kind of quietly.

Zinc and copper prices have been rallying, as well.

The dollar continues to make new lows, and a weaker dollar inflates commodity prices.  The chart on the right compares the TSI North European HRC $/mt with the USD/Euro cross.  In this case, the appreciation in the euro/weakness in the U.S. dollar looks to be a big reason for the downward pressure on the North European HRC price, as opposed to weak manufacturing.  The Eurozone PMI is at 57.4, and the German PMI at 59.6 is the highest of any of the major global economies.

The CME Midwest HRC futures curve is off slightly since the last SMU article after some less-than-exciting index prints and news of steel trade concessions made by the U.S. to Canada and Australia at last week’s G20 meeting led to sellers pressuring prices lower at the outset of this week.

However, today just before 3pm EST, news that President Trump said he is “considering both quotas and tariffs on steel” hit the tape.  While some folks may be wringing their hands with frustration that the administration is taking so long to announce a new policy, consider the effect the uncertainty has had on slowing import transactions and the influence that simply holding said uncertainty over the head of the industry has.  What’s the administration’s motivation to rush an outcome? 

All conspiracy theories aside, there was a noticeable pop in import licenses in June, while July is forecast to increase even further as importers look to be rushing tons through customs before any punitive actions are enacted.  However, in the not so short-term, uncertainty looks to have caused both buyers and sellers of imported material to walk away until the issue is resolved, and this will likely lead to a sharp drop-off in imports in the coming months.

The opportunity in HRC futures might present itself at any time, so pay close attention to President Trump’s tweets, keep your local broker on speed dial and remember Ferrous Bueller’s philosophy…

“Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and take a look around once in a while, you could miss it.”