Economy
PMA Report Indicates Continued Market Weakness
Written by Sandy Williams
November 22, 2019
Metalforming companies reported continued weakness in the market in the latest survey by the Precision Metalforming Association. The PMA November 2019 Business Conditions Report showed 34 percent of participants expect a decline in economic activity and 51 percent expect no change.
“The November PMA Business Conditions Report showed little change from the previous month. Metalforming companies remain concerned about market conditions as they continue to see a slowdown in incoming orders and an overall softening of the market,” said PMA President David Klotz. “This corresponds with soft market conditions reported by PMA members’ customers in the automotive, aviation, appliance and other sectors. Ending the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is one way that the administration can provide some stability to the market, as the tariffs are negatively affecting both steel users and steel producers.”
Average daily shipping level improved slightly in November, but metalforming companies predict that incoming orders will decline during the next three months.
Fifteen percent of companies surveyed reported a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff, compared to 12 percent in October and 6 percent a year ago.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy
Second steel derivatives S232 inclusion window opens, business community voices concern
The US Department of Commerce announced that its second window for submitting applications for the inclusion of derivative steel and aluminum products in Section 232 tariffs is now open, according to the US Federal Register. September’s Inclusion Window Sept. 15 through Sept. 29, applicants can email requests for inclusions to the Defense Industrial Base Programs. The first […]
Steel Summit: ITR economist urges execs to prepare for growth, not recession
If the steel industry professionals who made it to the very final presentation of this year’s SMU Steel Summit were expecting another round of cautious forecasting, they were in for a surprise. Because what they got was a wake-up call.
ISM: Manufacturing growth remained down in August
US manufacturing activity remained muted in August despite a marginal gain from July's recent low, according to supply executives contributing to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s latest report.
Steel Summit: Dr. Basu blames tariffs for riskier path ahead
Steel executives packed the main conference hall of the 2025 SMU Steel Summit on Tuesday, Aug. 26, to hear economist Dr. Anirban Basu lay out his blunt view of tariffs, inflation, and demand.
Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.