Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Written by John Packard

December 19, 2016

A note about the MSCI data and carbon flat rolled inventories. The MSCI reported hot rolled supplies on the floor of the U.S. steel mills as being 2.21 months supply. Cold rolled and coated supplies were under 2.0 months based on MSCI statistics. Cold rolled was reported to be 1.90 months supply and coated at 1.75 months supply.

As one coated service center pointed out, the galvanized/Galvalume inventories represent 36.7 days supply and that is too low. The problem is the mill lead times are into February and, in some cases, close to the end of February. We don’t think coated inventories will bounce above 2.0 months until sometime later in the spring.

A note to our customers: Steel Market Update will need to raise prices modestly on both our Executive and Premium subscription levels. The increase, which will be $100 taking a one person Executive membership from $1095 to $1195 and Premium from $1995 to $2095, will not begin until February 1, 2017. We will send out a memo on the changes to our pricing in a special email later this week. As in past years if you wish to renew your membership prior to February 1, 2017 we will allow you to pay the existing price levels. If you have any questions give us a call: 800-432-3475.

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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