Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
April 13, 2015
For those of you who are interested the Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI) shipment and inventory data is scheduled to be released tomorrow (Wednesday). We will have a full report for our Executive members in Thursday’s issue and our Apparent Excess and Price Forecast and another more detailed report for our Premium level members later this week.
Our Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop is now about 60 percent full. We are looking forward to spring in the Chicago area and our visit to the NLMK USA steel mill which is located in Portage, Indiana. The dates for the workshop are May 19 & 20th and the location is the Radisson at Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana. Come join myself and my fine team of highly experienced steel instructors: John Eckstein, Peter Wright, Steve Painter and Mario Briccetti as we interact with our attendees about the steel making process, how steel is sold, where it is used, how qualities are produced, how commodities and world events impact pricing and what makes a good supplier/customer relationship and much more. Details can be found on our website or by clicking on this link. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me directly: 800-432-3475 or John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
Chicago was the weakest market for ferrous scrap deals this month. This was due to little to no buying out of ArcelorMittal and US Steel as they both have taken down furnaces. Chicago area HMS was reported to be around $225 per gross ton, shredded around $235 per ton and busheling around $240 per ton. The rest of the country saw higher prices with the ranges being $225-$235 per gross ton for heavy melt, $255-$260 per gross ton on shred and $250-$260 per gross ton on busheling.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
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Final thoughts
I think all of us know that sometimes courtships go wrong. A misplaced word or deed and soon things can go sideways, and not in the prices sense. Such could be the case with Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel’s play for U.S. Steel.
Final thoughts
We’re starting to see some impacts of the big trade case filed last week against imports of coated flat-rolled steel from 10 nations. Namely, we’ve heard that a range of traders have stopped offering material from Vietnam. An alleged dumping margin of nearly 160% will do that. Especially amid chatter of critical circumstances.
Final thoughts
The phrase “political football” has been tossed around a lot lately. (Pun probably intended.) For the humble journalists at SMU who thought the week following Steel Summit would prove a quiet one… the news cycle had other ideas
Final thoughts
Sheet prices didn’t roar back after Labor Day. But steel market news sure came out of the gate strong (or maybe chaotically is the better way to put it). First, the nearly $15-billion proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel exploded into the news. And when I say exploded, I mean that all sides seem to be escalating things now.
Final thoughts
Welcome back from Labor Day, from Steel Summit, and from whatever fun you might have had over the long weekend. Personally, I enjoyed camping with friends and family near Starved Rock. No one starved, there were no major injuries, and we enjoyed the many splendors of Mystical Fire. (Speaking of which, does that have industrial uses? But I digress.)