• Skip to main content

    Analysis

    January 30, 2024

    Final thoughts

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    The sun decided to greet us on the second day of the Tampa Steel Conference 2024. Attendees from the chillier northern parts of the continent got their dose of winter sunshine. But whatever the temps, it was inside the conference room where things really heated up. From the stage to the sidelines, here are the issues that seemed to be on everyone’s mind.

    Dr. Walter Kemmsies, managing partner at The Kemmsies Group, kicked off the keynote session noting something that failed to materialize in 2023: a recession. He didn’t have high praise for economists who predicted a recession in general. Needless to say, he doesn’t see one in 2024, but there are a lot of unknowns.

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

    Read more from Ethan Bernard

    Latest in Analysis

    Price on Trade: Milwaukee Framework is a step forward on steel excess capacity

    Members of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) met in Wisconsin last week and unveiled an updated plan to combat market-distorting excess capacity. The Milwaukee Framework adds color to the 2017 “Berlin Principles.” It is also a positive step in the ongoing battle against global steel market distortions. However, the Framework is only a guidepost. It must be implemented correctly to make an impact as new problems loom.