Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
July 2, 2018
Welcome back to those of you in the United States who had the Fourth of July off, but didn’t decide to take a few extra days and extend the holiday. SMU was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in honor of the Fourth and also to give myself a bit of a break having just been in New York City and London over the past week.
For those of you registered to attend our 8th SMU Steel Summit Conference on Aug. 27-29 in Atlanta, the room blocks have been sold out on the three Gateway hotels next to the convention center. We still have rooms available at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel from which we will be running a shuttle to the Georgia International Convention Center. At our last count, there were 70 rooms left in that room block.
The Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel is 1.5 miles south of the Georgia International Convention Center, but includes a complimentary shuttle. Click here to book your stay here at $151/night or you may book over the phone at 1-888-239-1203; ask for the Steel Market Update room block.
Here are some of the recent registrations as we bump up against 700 registered attendees for the 2018 conference with 52 days to go: Lapham-Hickey Steel, Honda Trading de Mexico, Norfolk Iron & Metal Co., Luminus Management, CAN-PACK S.A., Mississippi Steel Processing, MISA, Westman Steel Industries, Metal Center News, National Oilwell Varco, Quality Edge, Inc., Worthington Industries and Majestic Steel. If you have any questions about pricing, how to register, hotels or just general questions, I am happy to answer them for you. You can reach me at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by phone at 800-432-3475.
My meeting in London with CRU management and members of their various teams made me feel very comfortable with the decision I made to sell the company to them. I know it will take some time, but we are already hard at work developing or expanding on projects that I began but needed help to bring to fruition. SMU will continue to be on the cutting edge as we grow our business.
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
I’m not sure how many different ways I can write that it’s been a quiet market ahead of Independence Day. There are variations on that theme. I’ve heard everything from the ominous “eerily quiet” to "getting better" and even the occasional “blissfully unaware” (because I’m enjoying my vacation).

Final Thoughts
What's going to be the next big thing in steel?

Final Thoughts
Based on the amount of ‘out of office’ replies we’ve been receiving and the results of this week’s steel buyers’ survey, those pesky summer doldrums have arrived for the steel industry.

Final Thoughts
Maybe some of this uncertainty will get ironed out ahead of Liberation Day tariffs resetting higher rates on July 9. But if I had to place a wager, it would be on more drama and last-minute brinksmanship - whether it comes to the Liberation Day tariffs or the various Section 232s that are in the works.

Final Thoughts
What should you keep your eye on, considering the latest geopolitical events?