Steel Products
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
January 25, 2013
A quick reminder that our Steel 101 workshop registration is open – details about our program, our instructors, and the tour of Severstal Columbus which is part of the program and discount details for SMU member companies are on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com – or you are welcome to contact our office with any questions you might have: 800-432-3475 or info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. The dates on the upcoming Steel 101 workshop are February 27 & 28, 2013.
I will be at the AIIS West Coast dinner this evening (Thursday) in Long Beach, California. On Monday and part of Tuesday I anticipate being at ASHRAE – AHRI Expo in Dallas, Texas. I expect to be back in my office by Thursday of next week.
We included a couple of articles about Europe as we have been getting some questions regarding the situation there.
Foreign prices are going higher. I am hearing from a number of my sources that prices in China are up, prices for foreign in Houston are moving higher and many foreign offers are on par with pre-announcement domestic prices. Higher foreign prices, if coupled with less imports, will help support domestic price increases.
Does this mean these price increase announcements will stick? Too early to tell – watch mill order books and listen to your mill sales people. Are they holding the line or willing to negotiate?
As always your business is truly appreciated.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products
SMU Community Chat replay now available
The latest SMU Community Chat webinar reply is now available on our website to all members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the community tab and look under the “previous webinars” section of the dropdown menu. All past Community Chat webinars are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the webinar replay, or if your company […]
SSAB announces $74M expansion in Alabama
The project will expand heat treat capacity at its Axis, Alabama plant
Service centers: Mill orders retreat in March
SMU’s Mill Order Index declined in March after repeated gains at the start of the year, according to our latest service center inventories data.
Nucor maintains plate prices
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat with the opening of its June order book.
US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.