Final Thoughts
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Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
January 19, 2018
If you received an email welcoming you to a free trial of Steel Market Update, please disregard. Somehow, that email was sent in error (I received one as well) and we believe it to be a glitch associated with the updated software we have on our website. Sorry for the confusion.
I have been told that, at least for the time being, AK Steel customers will not be affected by the spill and fire at the Middletown facility. I expect that over the next few days we will get more information either directly from the mill or through their customers as to what impact the cleanup and any rebuilding will have on production. We will need to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, I don’t believe now is a time to panic. Just stay close to your suppliers and your information sources.
I will be traveling to Mobile, Ala., on Tuesday where Steel Market Update will be conducting one of our Steel 101 workshops. I will not return to my office until late in the day on Friday. Our next Steel 101 workshop will be held just outside of Chicago in Merrillville, Ind., on March 28 and 29. That workshop will include a tour of the NLMK USA Portage, Ind., steel mill. Information about that workshop can be found on our website or you are welcome to contact our office at 800-432-3475 or 706-216-2140.
I am deeply involved with putting together the program for our 2018 SMU Steel Summit Conference, which will be held in Atlanta on Aug. 27-29. I am always looking for suggestions regarding subjects that should be covered (or better covered) or for speakers who are exceptional and have something to say to the industry. If you have any recommendations, please contact me at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
For our Premium level members, last week’s PowerPoint presentation of our flat rolled market trends analysis is on our website and available for review. If you are an Executive level member and you would like to see what one of these PowerPoints looks like, please send an email to Brett@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here 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.