Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
February 23, 2018
Diana and I will be traveling on Monday and Tuesday on business and will not be available in our offices and will have limited use of our cell phones. If you have an issue, please contact Brett Linton at 706-216-2140 or send emails to info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
I will be canvassing the market on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning to see where spot prices are for this week. Thank you in advance for working with me to get the latest offers, as well as what transaction prices are for this week.
Registration is open and available on the website for the 2018 SMU Steel Summit Conference. You can go to www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel-summit to get more details and to register for this year’s event.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher

John Packard
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Final Thoughts
Based on the amount of ‘out of office’ replies we’ve been receiving and the results of this week’s steel buyers’ survey, those pesky summer doldrums have arrived for the steel industry.

Final Thoughts
Maybe some of this uncertainty will get ironed out ahead of Liberation Day tariffs resetting higher rates on July 9. But if I had to place a wager, it would be on more drama and last-minute brinksmanship - whether it comes to the Liberation Day tariffs or the various Section 232s that are in the works.

Final Thoughts
What should you keep your eye on, considering the latest geopolitical events?

Final Thoughts
Not many people in the North American steel market had direct US involvement in another Middle East conflict on their bingo card. Prices weren't expected to shoot higher unless something unexpected happened. That unexpected something has now happened. And there is talk of oil at $100 per barrel. What does that mean for steel?

Final Thoughts
Now that the USS/Nippon deal has been completed, what's next?