Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
February 24, 2016
On Tuesday evening we published an article regarding the HARDI wholesaler steel conference call. During the call one of the wholesalers referred to Kloeckner Metals Corporation as one of the service centers they were having competitive issues with. An executive with Kloeckner saw our article and responded to the comment made and quoted in our article: “As Kloeckner Metals Corporation was specifically mentioned in this article I feel compelled to comment. Kloeckner Metals Corporation is fully supporting all announced mill increases in the transactional (spot) market contrary to the comment by an unidentified wholesaler.”
For those of you expecting the preliminary determination of antidumping (AD) on cold rolled steel today be advised that the announcement has been moved out four business days. Here is our understanding as of today:
– Because of the snow on January 23 and 24, Commerce added four business days to all deadlines in all cases pending before the Department (AD/CVD, foreign trade zone proceedings and others).
– The cold-rolled determination is now due February 29 (four business days after the 23d), and the hot-rolled determination is due March 14 (four business days after the announced date of March 8).
– The determinations will be announced the following business day in each case (March 1 and March 15, respectively).
I have been getting inquiries lately regarding our Steel Sales Training Program which, at this point in time, is a custom workshop aimed at distributors in the steel space. If your company has some interest – whether in a custom program developed specifically for your company or, you might only have one to a few people that you feel would benefit from such a program, please let me know. We have been looking at this workshop as one that we could produce on a more generalized basis for a mixed audience. You can reach me at: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure how many different ways I can write that it’s been a quiet market ahead of Independence Day. There are variations on that theme. I’ve heard everything from the ominous “eerily quiet” to "getting better" and even the occasional “blissfully unaware” (because I’m enjoying my vacation).
Final Thoughts
What's going to be the next big thing in steel?
Final Thoughts
Based on the amount of ‘out of office’ replies we’ve been receiving and the results of this week’s steel buyers’ survey, those pesky summer doldrums have arrived for the steel industry.
Final Thoughts
Maybe some of this uncertainty will get ironed out ahead of Liberation Day tariffs resetting higher rates on July 9. But if I had to place a wager, it would be on more drama and last-minute brinksmanship - whether it comes to the Liberation Day tariffs or the various Section 232s that are in the works.
Final Thoughts
What should you keep your eye on, considering the latest geopolitical events?