Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
November 30, 2018
It has been a beautiful weekend in Austin, Texas, where I spoke earlier today (Sunday) at the annual HARDI conference. I spoke at the steel council, which consists of HVAC wholesalers who sell galvanized sheet/coil products, manufacturers supplying the wholesalers and a couple of service centers who sell galvanized sheet and coil to the wholesalers. The meeting was well attended, as was the manufacturing group that spoke after Josh Spoores (CRU senior analyst) and I spoke about the steel markets. I produced an article about the council meeting, which is in tonight’s issue.
A note about our Jan. 29-30, 2019, Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop. Our first Steel 101 workshop is being held in the South as we feel the chances for decent weather are much better than trying to do a northern one. The workshop is going to feature the SDI Columbus, Miss., steel mill. This SDI mill is one of the largest flat rolled “mini” mills in North America. It produces hot rolled, hot rolled pickled and oiled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume and pre-painted steels. This workshop will be an exceptional opportunity to learn about all of these products and to view an excellent steel mill.
The cost to attend one of our Steel 101 workshops is $2,000 per person with discounts given for SMU/CRU member companies (being a member of either will be worth a $100 per person discount). For those companies who send more than one person, there is another $100 per person discount.
The registration fee includes all meals, snacks during breaks, transportation to and from the mill and a networking cocktail party and dinner, which will include executives from Steel Dynamics, all of our instructors and all of the attendees.
We have plenty of seats available. You can learn more by going to www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/Events/Steel101 or by contacting our office at 800-432-3475 or 706-216-2140 or by emailing us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com
We are now in the month of December and we are coasting to the end of the calendar year. I want to remind everyone about our 2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference, which will be held Aug. 26-28 in Atlanta at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), which is where we have been for a number of years. We will be opening up registration before the end of this year using a new website/registration system. We are booking speakers (like Alan Beaulieu) and planning for a strong program for our 2019 conference. Put the dates on your calendar – Aug. 26, 27 and 28, 2019.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, President & CEO

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Nearly 50% of respondents to our latest survey thought hot-rolled coil prices have already peaked. And where will those prices be two months from now? Responses were decidedly split on that question.

Final Thoughts
A modest week-to-week change in HR price understates a huge swing in expectations.

Final Thoughts
What happens when ChatGPT meets SMU's Market Chatter? No, this is not an idea for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Then again, with what Hollywood is putting out these days, Chatter Meets Chat might just turn out to be a hit. Rather, it’s that old idea of putting theory into practice. Recently, I conducted an interview with Doug Schrock, managing principal of AI at public accounting and consulting firm Crowe. He gave some tips on how to implement AI into your business.

Final Thoughts
The Trump tariff drama continues.

Final Thoughts
Let’s just say the impact of the latest tariffs on the domestic steel market is uncertain at best.