Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
April 29, 2019
Another exciting week in the steel industry…
A couple of reminders:
With four months yet to go we are marching toward 400 registered executives for the 2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference, which will be held in Atlanta on Aug. 26-28. This is THE premier networking event for the steel industry during the calendar year. Here are just a few of the registrations we have received this week (the * means more than one person from that company is registered): NLMK USA*, Nucor*, Precoat Metals, Scrap Metal Services*, Valmont, Priefert Manufacturing*, State Steel Supply* and Kloeckner Metals. You can register for your spot by clicking on this link or going to: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/Events/Steel-Summit
With two weeks to go we still have a few seats available for the SMU Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop, which will be held in Davenport, Iowa, on the 14th and 15th of May. The workshop will include a tour of the SSAB steel mill. For details go to: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/Events/Steel101
Next week is the Metals Industry Boy Scout Dinner at the Hyatt in Chicago. I highly recommend attending this dinner as it is probably the second-best networking event behind our conference (in my humble opinion). You can find more information on their website, which I have linked to here.
On June 17, the CRU Group will host a Steel Briefing in New York City. Lewis Leibowitz and I will be opening the conference. We will be discussing how trade is impacting the steel industry. This is a free event and you can register by clicking on this link.
I am here in my office for the balance of this week and will begin traveling again next Wednesday as I head off for Chicago.
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
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?

Final Thoughts
Not many people in the North American steel market had direct US involvement in another Middle East conflict on their bingo card. Prices weren't expected to shoot higher unless something unexpected happened. That unexpected something has now happened. And there is talk of oil at $100 per barrel. What does that mean for steel?