Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
September 13, 2017
A note to service centers: SMU is working on a new prime flat rolled distributor inventory index and trends analysis. If your company is interested in participating or if you have any questions, please send me a note: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com
The hurricane saga continues, and I want to take a moment to wish those who have been impacted by either Harvey or Irma best wishes and a quick recovery from whatever damage you might have suffered. To our readers, if it is possible, please contribute to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or another disaster relief organization.
We are back in Hobe Sound where both our home and office were untouched by the storm. Brett Linton in our Georgia office has not been quite so lucky and has been without power since Monday when a tree came down in their neighborhood and took out all of the wires. To date, the tree and the wires remain where they fell and Brett has been working at his in-laws and Chick-Fil-A (so, we have to give a shout out to his in-laws and Chick-Fil-A for helping with tonight’s issue).
I spoke about the new service center index we have been working on for about three months. The service centers who participate will receive the results before they are offered out to our subscribers. Our goal is to produce the index within the first 10 days of each new month. I will continue to “tweak” the index over the next few months. If you have suggestions on what you would like for us to cover and how you would like to see the information portrayed, please send me an email. I have a good idea as to what I would like to accomplish and I will be sharing those thoughts directly with the companies who have volunteered to share information (confidentially) with us. I will be sending a report on Friday to the service centers who participated this week.
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
It’s another week of big headlines and ho-hum pricing moves – which is to say the start of 2025 is looking a lot like the end of 2024. Scrap has settled up $20 per gross ton (gt). Steel prices, however, were a soft sideways this week. Chalk it up to uneven demand and abundant supply. And while we’re not aware of any major outages, some of you tell us that you’ve lost some shipping days here and there because of the recent cold snap.
Final Thoughts
I wrote in a Final Thoughts a few years ago that it seemed all the swans were black. More recently, I’ve been asked by some of you what the wildcards are for 2025. You could probably make the case that all the cards are wild now.
Final Thoughts
SMU lets readers respond on their thoughts about President Joe Biden blocking Nippon's deal for U.S. Steel.
Final Thoughts
Some world-changing events happen in an instant. Others take many twists and turns. The outcome remains unknowable at every phase. That is, until you finally arrive at the end of the roller coaster, the safety bar lifts up, and you stagger off the ride. It appears such is the case with Japan’s Nippon’s Steel Corp.’s (NSC’s) proposed $14.9-billion buy of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. And the ride ain't over yet.
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure what to say about President Biden’s blocking Nippon Steel’s deal for U.S. Steel that hasn’t already been said. I think it’s fair to say, as U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt did, that this was ultimately all about politics and had very little to do with national security. SMU has tried to remain […]