Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
October 22, 2013
The early forecast is for scrap prices to increase by $20 per gross ton in early November. If this happens it could help keep domestic mill prices at current levels (or slightly higher). It could also prompt the domestic mills to ask for another price increase.
Longer term the analysts believe domestic scrap prices will drop. In a note to their customers regarding AK Steel, KeyBanc analyst Mark Parr said this about scrap, “The most aggressive piece of our thesis is likely on domestic scrap pricing, where we expect sizeable downside to develop as Nucor Corporation (NUE-NYSE) brings on its 2.5 million-ton [annualized] DRI facility into 2014 and post-consumer scrap export volumes remain weak.”
Nucor advised that they are testing the DRI plant right now and it should come online at the end of this quarter once the damaged storage facility is replaced.
A reminder that our next Steel 101: Introduction to Steelmaking & Market Fundamentals workshop is open for registration on our website or through our office (800-432-3475). The workshop will be held on February 4 & 5, 2014 in Mobile, Alabama and will include a tour of the SSAB mini-mill. Details can be found in the events section of our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard
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Final thoughts
SMU has heard from some larger buyers who have stepped back into the market to buy at prices that, if not at a bottom, they assess to be close to one. Is it enough to stretch out lead times and send prices upward again? Or do we continue to scrape along the mid-$600s per short ton (st) as we have been doing for most of the last month?
Final thoughts
Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves had some insightful things to say today about the steel market and about a conference we suspect might be Steel Summit.
Final thoughts
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, when you add in some commentary from respected peers in the steel industry to those pictures, that may shoot you up to five thousand words, at least. In that spirit, we’ve added some snapshots from our market survey this week, along with some comments from market participants.
Final thoughts
I thought we’d have more clarity this week on Section 232, Mexico, and a potential carve-out for steel melted and poured in Brazil. As of right now, the only official comment I have is from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Final thoughts
There are just 40 days left until the 2024 SMU Steel Summit gets underway on Aug. 26 at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in Atlanta. And I’m pleased to announce that it's official now: More than 1,000 people have registered to at attend! Another big development: The desktop version of the networking app for the event has officially launched!