Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
December 17, 2018
We are quickly sliding toward the Christmas Holiday and the New Year. I guess this means I will need to do some shopping (and shipping) over the next 24 hours or lose my good standing as a father…
Over the next couple of publications, we will write about this year through the rear-view mirror. 2018 will be one of the years long remembered in the steel history books. Right up there with 1973-74 and 2004 or was it 2006? This has been a hum-dinger of a year.
We will also report on our last flat rolled and plate steel market trends questionnaire, which we are working on right now. Are the service centers closer to capitulation? We will let you know either on Thursday or Sunday evening.
We have not been publishing our Service Center Inventories Report to our readers. Right now, that report goes to data providers. We have expanded the detail we are collecting as we work toward providing the market a new product. I will tell you that the number of months of supply of flat rolled came in at 2.5 months, down slightly from the 2.6 months reported to data providers for the end of October. If you are a steel distributor of flat rolled or plate products and you would like to work with Steel Market Update on a confidential basis, please contact me: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Our next Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop on Jan. 29-30, 2019, is now three-quarters sold out (we have about 8-10 seats available). The workshop will be held in Starkville, Miss., and we will tour the Steel Dynamics (SDI) Columbus flat rolled mill and paint line. The Columbus mill produces hot rolled, HRPO, cold rolled, galvanized, galvanneal, Galvalume and it has a paint line. Combined with our quality instructors, 100+ page workbook and the three months membership to our Executive and Premium level newsletters for each attendee, the class has a lot to offer those new to the industry, as well as those seeking a refresher course or just wanting to learn more. You can learn more about the workshop and how to register on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel101
As I mentioned above, we are heading toward Christmas and New Year’s and toward a break for me (maybe) and our employees. Our last publication for 2018 will be on Sunday, Dec. 23. We will not publish again, unless there is something that must be covered, until the first week of January. If you need help during the holidays, send us an email at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com and we will get back with you ASAP.
I am here for the balance of the week and…
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
SMU uses ferrous scrap survey data to take AI out on a test drive.

Final Thoughts
Will a US-UK meeting next week prove a harbinger of tariff deals to come, or will it be just another case of having the rug pulled from under us?

Final Thoughts
When will we see prime scrap become scarce as the worldwide transition to EAF melting increases, especially for HRC production? It's a question I've been asked a lot.

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.