Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
June 30, 2022
I’m not gone yet… 61 days to go.
First, thank you for all the kind phone calls, notes, posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., regarding the announcement of my upcoming retirement at the end of August. I truly appreciate the comments made, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the 2022 SMU Steel Summit Conference in Atlanta.
Between now and the end of August, I intend to pen several articles on factors affecting the steel industry and ultimately steel prices. We are living in dynamic times for the industry as steel mills make moves to modernize, decarbonize, and adjust their focus on what the industry will look like in the years to come.
I also intend on writing a few articles about the path I took that led me and Steel Market Update to this point.
Steel Market Update is well-positioned to continue to be a solid source of information, education, and a benchmark for the industry without me leading the charge. SMU will continue to evolve to properly cover an industry that is evolving as well. I encourage you to engage with Michael Cowden, Brett Linton, David Schollaert, Laura Miller, and the soon-to-be-named new team member who will be joining SMU in July. You will be able to meet them at this year’s SMU Steel Summit Conference on August 22-24. I will be at the conference as well as I take my last bow and past the baton to my successor.
Speaking of the conference, we have passed through 800 registered executives heading toward 900 and ultimately well over a thousand. Over the past few days, we have added the following companies (those with an * means there is more than one individual registered from that company): ADM Investor Services, Berg Steel Pipe Corp.*, Borusan Mannesmann Pipe US Inc.*, Helmer Scientific, Jemison Metals*, JSW Steel USA, Metal Master*, Misetal*, P&S Transportation Inc., Schaeffler Group USA Inc., Tubular USA, Valmont, Vest Inc., Wastequip LLC, Welser Profile Austria GmbH*, PTC Alliance. You can view a full list of attending companies by clicking here. You can register for the conference by clicking here.
Nominations for the SMU NexGen Leadership Award will soon close. We have room for more nominations, and I highly encourage you to recognize your high achievers who are 35 or younger by nominating them for this prestigious industry award. You can learn more about the award, how to make a nomination (self-nominations are also accepted), an example of what a well-received nomination looks like, discounts nominees will get to attend this year’s conference, what the winner will receive, and more information about the award by clicking here.
SMU has started a youth-focused organization called the NEXGEN Metals Community. This is a free organization whose focus is on attracting and keeping young people in the metals industries. The organization is free and will host its first in-person meeting during the SMU Steel Summit Conference in Atlanta. You do not have to be a registered attendee of the conference to attend NEXGEN Metals Community events. You can learn more about the organization, its benefits, and how to join by clicking here.
For those of you located in the United States please enjoy the long 4th of July holiday weekend.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us associated with Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Founder
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Tariff-related noise aside, there is one basic factor keeping buyers on the sidelines. Despite recent declines, HR prices remain at historically high levels. And there is no obvious support to keep them there.
Final Thoughts
United Airlines raised eyebrows earlier this month when it provided two forecasts for 2025 – one assuming a relatively stable economy and another assuming a recession. The reason? Uncertainty around the impact of President Trump’s policy shocks on the broader economy. And it sometimes feels like we’re seeing a battle between those two narratives (stable vs recession) play out within in the pages of this newsletter.
Final Thoughts
Despite some scary headlines lately (especially about Trump potentially firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell) this is not October 2008 (financial crisis) or March 2020 (onset of the pandemic). But it sure seems like we’ve taken a relatively strong economy and poured a thick sauce of uncertainty over it.
Final Thoughts
I put some of our survey data through ChatGpt, with interesting results.
Final Thoughts
Nearly 50% of respondents to our latest survey thought hot-rolled coil prices have already peaked. And where will those prices be two months from now? Responses were decidedly split on that question.