Final Thoughts

April 2, 2018

I am happy to announce CNBC analyst and commentator Ron Insana will be doing our closing keynote speech this year. Mr. Insana is well know for his analysis, business forecasts and work following politics, regulations and trade issues and how they will impact business in the United States. I believe our attendees will have a unique and valuable experience with not only Ron Insana, but all of our other speakers, as well. We have been working on this year’s program for many months and it is shaping up very nicely. We have more surprises to come, and I recommend that you take a few moments to register online at www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel-summit or by contacting our office at 772-932-7538.

Speaking of premier programs, we just finished one of our Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshops in Indiana. That workshop included a tour of the NLMK USA Portage minimill. I want to take a moment to thank the folks at NLMK for their hospitality both at the mill and at the networking dinner later that evening. Our attendees were impressed with the mill.

Our next Steel 101 workshop is going to be exceptional as for the first time we will be touring two steel mills in one day. The next workshop will be held in Memphis, Tenn., on June 5 & 6 and will include a tour of the Nucor Hickman flat rolled mill and its sister plant located some 10 miles away, Nucor-Yamato, which produces the largest beams in the country (long product) and has one of their two Castrip hot mills. I have never seen a Castrip mill in operation nor have any of our instructors and we are excited for the opportunity. I expect this workshop to fill quickly (it is about one-third sold out already). You can find more details and register on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel101 or by contacting our office at 772-932-7538.

If you have any questions about either our conference or one of our Steel 101 workshops, I am always available. I can be reached at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Late today, President Trump through the USTR Robert Lighthizer, expanded the trade war with China by proposing tariffs on robotics, information technology, communications technology, steel, tool steel, stainless steel, electrical steel, steel pipe, steel nuts, steel springs, water boilers, gas generators, turbines, engines for outboard motors, other internal combustion engines, pumps, compressors, furnace burners, bakery ovens, non-electric water heaters, heat exchange units, catalytic converters, dishwashers, scales, fire extinguishers, derricks and cranes, forklift trucks, elevators and conveyors, self-propelled bulldozers, self-propelled machinery, snowplows and snowblowers, parts for oil & gas drilling platforms, all kinds of agriculture and forest equipment, parts for printing presses and textile machinery, metal rolling mills, all kinds of machine tools, lathes, hydraulic presses, all kinds of tools, chainsaws, DC motors and other motors, AC motors and generators, and aerospace. I actually gave up trying to go through the list which is about 40 pages long…. This is to punish the Chinese for their policy to force companies to transfer technology and intellectual property to local Chinese companies. This Section 301 action next step is for a public hearing in mid-May (similar to the Section 232 hearing). Stay tuned. I have a feeling the Chinese are going to respond.

It is going to be a busy week on Wall Street and in the steel market. We have timed Ron Insana and Grant Aldonas as perfect speakers to address the politics, as well as the business risks, come late August at our conference (which you all are invited to attend).

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

John Packard, Publisher