Final Thoughts

This area of our newsletter, my “final thoughts” exists so that I have a forum to give my opinion on topics I deem important at that time. Tonight I want to address those of you who are negotiating 2016 contracts – my opinion is now might be an excellent time to cut your deal… In my mind it seems that the market is waiting for the catalyst that will stop the price slide. If scrap bottoms and begin to move higher as we move into the winter months… If US Steel or ArcelorMittal (or both) decide that they have no option but to lockout the USW in order to achieve the concessions needed… If the trade case rulings end up in favor of the domestic steel mills (and end up being large enough to stem the flow of imported steel)… If AK Steel, US Steel and possibly ArcelorMittal take out the capacity being discussed (publically or privately)… If we have a harsh winter which tends to play havoc with those blast furnaces located in the North (as in all of them since USS Fairfield has shut down its blast furnace)…

There are reasons to not wait too long trying to catch the last drop of price erosion (however, others will still say it is never safe to catch a falling knife…).

That statement prompted a number of responses from our readers. Most agreeing with what I had to say. However, one reader added a little twist that I feel I need to address. I received the following note from a long-time reader (and former steel customer of mine):

I am glad that you used your Final Thoughts to really include a Thought.  None of us knows what the answer is but I am in agreement.  I don’t look for a significant bounce but the domestic and (known) foreign markets are fairly close.  There are a lot of unknown names out there on the foreign side – I am sure some of them are great and some of them are probably not.

I agree that there are perhaps too many occasions where I have straddled the fence and not provided my opinion on subjects where our readers could have benefited (or at least been prompted to think of reasons as to why they disagree). Going forward I will try to provide my opinion on subjects that can/will affect your business. I will not always be right and as I learn more about various subjects I may change my mind. I will always entertain differing opinions which can be sent to: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com

I have been asked over the past couple of days to elaborate further on the status of negotiations between USS/ArcelorMittal and the USW. I do not have any direct information that allows me insights into the process. I remember conversations that I had with Rolf Gerstenberger when he was the president of the USS Hamilton Works USW local. I can remember how that union was locked out due to “principle” regarding taking benefits away from retirees. It was obvious (at least to me since their sister plant had just settled with USS after being locked out for almost a year) that they were fighting a losing battle. They ended up being locked out for almost a year and still lost.

I have been told the same USS negotiators who worked on the USS Canada contracts are negotiating the USA contracts. Are the union workers in the USA of the same mindset as those in Canada (we won’t give in at any cost…)? I don’t know the answer to that question and if any of you have any insights please send me your thoughts.

At the same time – if the union is not willing to bend (no matter the costs) then AM and USS have to be careful regarding any lockout. Neither of them could afford to have the mills out for three, six, nine months or more.

I don’t know what direction this will ultimately go. It seems to me (my opinion) that the two mills have no choice but to get concessions to the health care issue. Since the union workers supported Obama for president – maybe the answer is for the unions to also accept the consequences of the Health Care Act that penalizes “Cadillac plans” and for the union to absorb any extra costs associated with penalties that come from those plans in the coming years?

Your opinions and suggestions are appreciated: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

And, as always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.

John Packard, Publisher