Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
June 15, 2018
I got a note from one of our readers who pointed out that Sept. 18 & 19 are Holy Days on the Jewish calendar. These were the days selected for our first SMU 201: Intro to Advanced High Strength & Other New Steels workshop, which is going to be held at AK Steel Research and Innovation Center (RIC) in Ohio. We are reviewing the dates with AK Steel to see if we are able to shift the timing and will advise.
A reminder about my travel schedule as it will be a bit hectic over the next couple of weeks. I will be in my office on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Wednesday I will be in Pittsburgh visiting the CRU Group USA offices and meeting their staff. I will be back in the office on Thursday and Friday. Next week, the week of June 25, I will be traveling to New York City where on Monday afternoon I will participate in a free CRU Group briefing. Our members are invited to attend and can register by clicking on this link. Later that afternoon, I will be hosting the Bank of America Merrill Lynch dinner as Timna Tanners will be traveling and unable to host the event this year.
The following day, Tuesday, June 26, I do have a couple of openings to meet with people who are in New York to attend other steel meetings. If you would like to meet, send me an email: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com
On Tuesday evening, Diana and I are flying overnight to London, England, where we will be meeting with the management and staff at the CRU Group headquarters for the balance of the week. We will be returning to the U.S.A. on Monday, July 2, but will not return to our offices until July 3.
Due to the Fourth of July falling on a Wednesday, I have decided we will not publish on Tuesday, July 3. This means we will produce our flat rolled and plate steel indices on Thursday, July 5. We will return to our normal schedule on July 5.
Tomorrow morning (June 18), we will begin collecting responses from our mid-June flat rolled and plate steel survey. If you receive an “Invitation to Participate” around 8 a.m. ET, please take a few minutes to respond to the first question, which is located at the bottom of the email. Once answered, you will be taken to the rest of the questions. The survey usually takes 3 to 5 minutes to complete.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, President & CEO

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts: The hidden cost of analysis paralysis in the age of uncertainty
With US economic indicators all over the map, it’s no wonder the steel market has experienced a whole lot of analysis paralysis this year.

Final Thoughts
A recurring theme in conversations with some of you and in the comments submitted in our surveys is concerns about demand and uncertainty around tariffs. Where does SMU’s latest opinion polling on President Trump’s tariffs stand? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Final Thoughts
I’ve been getting some calls lately from some of you who want to kick around ideas on where prices might bottom and when.

Final Thoughts
Could an upcoming BRICS meeting spell trouble for President Trump's trade policy?

Final Thoughts
Another record-breaking SMU Steel Summit is in the books. Thanks to all of you – attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors – for making it possible it in what has been an uncertain year for steel.