Final Thoughts
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Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
September 15, 2017
We will begin our mid-September flat rolled steel market trends analysis first thing on Monday morning. Invitations to participate will go out at 8 AM ET tomorrow morning. We currently send out approximately 650 invitations.
Note: We are correcting the galvanized comparison of coating extras as Nucor has not yet made a change to the schedule they are using. I also want to remind our readers that when reviewing our CPI, or on Tuesdays our galvanized .060″ G90 pricing, we continue to use the existing U.S. Steel extras and not the new NLMK USA extras. I know that at least one index has gone to the higher extras. We will not make a move until U.S. Steel, Nucor and ArcelorMittal decide what they are going to do.
When negotiating contract pricing, steel buyers should be aware that things like coating extras can be negotiable. We understand, from conversations we are having with steel mills, that the process of negotiating 2018 contracts has started, although we are very early in the process. Coating extras will be one area where the domestic mills may be looking for higher prices.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
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John Packard
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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 […]
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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.
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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).
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Final Thoughts
A look at how SMU survey respondents are reacting to President Trump's recent actions on tariffs.
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Final Thoughts
A lot of the changes basically entail rolling back what I’ll call, for fun, Section 232 Lite. S232 Lite resulted from watering down what I’ll call OG S232 – the one first imposed in March 2018 - with exemptions and exclusions over the years. Now, OG Section 232, is back with its across-the-board 25% tariffs against everyone.