Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
September 22, 2017
A note that SMU adjusted our Price Momentum Indicator to Lower from Neutral on Friday. I have explained 10 of the reasons why (and there are more) in the first article in tonight’s newsletter. If you would like to make comments, feel free to reach out to me at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
I will be working on foreign steel offers early this week as there have been a number of comments from both buyers and sellers of steel about the high prices associated with foreign right now. I will be working on trying to explain what that means and what it might mean for domestic steel prices in the months ahead. The market has been waiting for a correction of foreign steel imports, but it has not happened despite antidumping and countervailing duties. It has not happened due to the threat of Section 232 (in fact, I believe the Section 232 investigation has worked against the domestic steel mills). Logic says if foreign prices are higher than domestic, that should create an environment that favors domestic steel mills. The question is, exactly when?
Because one of the other things I have been hearing is from the OEMs who have gone out and protected themselves, buying extra inventory and/or taking advantage of their domestic contracts. Will the domestic mills be able to raise prices should there be less first-quarter demand than normal?
If you have opinions on these subjects, please contact me at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 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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Final Thoughts
Steel equities and steel futures fell hard after news broke earlier this week that the US and Mexico might reach an agreement that would result in the 50% Section 232 tariff coming off Mexican steel. The sharp declines didn’t make much sense, especially if, as some reports indicate, Mexico might agree to a fixed quota. They didn't make sense even if steel flows between the US and Mexico remain unchanged.
Final Thoughts
Even before the news about Mexico, I didn’t want to overstate the magnitude of the change in momentum. As far as we could tell, there hadn’t been a frenzy of new ordering following President Trump’s announcement of 50% Section 232 tariffs. But higher tariffs had unquestionably raised prices for imports, which typically provide the floor for domestic pricing. We’d heard, for example, that prices below $800 per short ton for hot-rolled (HR) coil were gone from the domestic market – even for larger buyers.
Final Thoughts
I want to draw your attention to SMU’s monthly scrap market survey. It’s a premium feature that complements our long-running steel market survey. We’ve been running our scrap survey since late January. And over just that short time, it’s become a valuable way not only for us to assess where scrap prices might go but also to quantify some of the “fuzzy” indicators - like sentiment and flows - that help to put the price in context.
Final Thoughts
I think there is an obvious case for sheet and plate prices going higher from here. That’s because, on a very basic level, the floor for flat-rolled steel prices, which is typically provided by imports, is now significantly higher than it was a week ago.
Final Thoughts
We're about to hit 50% Section 232 steel tariffs. What could happen?