Steel Products
Michael Smerconish to Deliver Dynamic Keynote
Written by John Packard
July 24, 2017
John Packard and Ray Culley of Steel Market Update (SMU) spoke with Michael Smerconish of CNN and Sirus XM Radio on Monday afternoon as we prepare for one of the most dynamic finishes to any steel-related conference program.
The title of his presentation is, “How did we get here (politically) and what will it take to get out?”
Recently, the CEO of a manufacturing company located in the Philadelphia area told SMU that he would pay to go to our conference “…just to see Smerconish speak.” He is known to be that knowledgeable and entertaining.
Smerconish’s view of the political world is not single-focused as a member of the “right” or the “left,” and he was selected to speak about the political battlefield and the economy from both sides of the political spectrum. Our goal was to find an exceptional speaker on the topic who would be “fair and balanced,” while at the same time not pulling any punches.
We highly encourage attendees to book your flights for a 5 p.m. or later departure so you don’t miss Smerconish (who begins at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday) and the equally impressive panel of exceptional young executives who will discuss what companies can do to attract, hire, train and maintain young people in manufacturing and steel-related jobs.
Our conference will adjourn at 3 p.m., and the airport is right next door, not more than 10 minutes away from the conference center.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products
Domestic mill shipments rise in June: AISI
US steel shipments increased month over month and year over year in June, according to the latest figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Active rig counts slipped in US, Canada
Drilling activity slowed in the US and Canada last week, according to the latest oil and gas rig count data released by Baker Hughes.
OCTG producers in Canada take aim at Mexico, US, others
Evraz NA and Welded Tube of Canada have lodged an unfair trade complaint against imports of OCTG, including those from USMCA trading partners Mexico and the US.
Final Thoughts
The difference: The spat with Turkey was a big deal for steel. This time, the 50% reciprocal tariff for Brazil – if it goes into effect as threatened on Aug.1 – hits everything from coffee and to pig iron. It seems almost custom-built to inflict as much pain as possible on Brazil.
CRU: US rebar and wire rod prices rise alongside S232 increase
CRU Senior Steel Analyst Alexandra Anderson discusses current market and pricing dynamics for long steel products in the US.