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    July 1, 2026

    Join SMU for a Community Chat with Barry Zekelman on July 15!

    Written by Michael Cowden

    Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, will be the featured guest on our next Community Chat on Wednesday, July 15, at 11 am ET.

    You can register here. The webinar is free. A recording will be available only to SMU members.

    Zekelman is known for his straight talk. And Zekelman Industries, a steel pipe and tube producer, is one of the largest steel buyers in North America. That means Zekelman has got a better eye on steel market developments than most. And he’s not afraid to share his thoughts.

    What we’ll talk about

    We’ll talk about demand in the wide range of end markets Zekelman Industries serves. Is demand from non-traditional sectors like data centers and the border wall as strong as it seems? Or has it been overhyped? And how about activity in more traditional building and construction segments?

    Also, how does a steel consumer – especially a big buyer like Zekelman Industries – secure enough material in a US market characterized by good demand, limited supplies, long lead times, and high prices?

    At Tampa Steel and in a prior Community Chat, Zekelman pointed out tariffs had been a boon for US mills, boosting profits and encouraging investment in domestic steelmaking. But he also noted that their track record for steel buyers had been spotty. Have changes to downstream tariffs since leveled the playing field for steel consumers?

    And when we gathered for Steel Summit last year, “Fortress North America” became a buzzword for a unified trade and tariff policy across Canada, the US, and Mexico. Now, the US has decided not to renew USMCA. Does that mean Fortress North America is doomed? Or is the US decision mostly about looking for leverage as negotiations continue?

    That’s hardly a full list. And we’ll of course take your questions too. So make sure to think of some good ones for the Q&A. And we’ll see you on July 15 at 11 am ET!

    Editor’s note

    SMU subscribers can access recordings of past Chats (and slide decks) here, including a good one last week with Wells Fargo Managing Director Timna Tanners.

    Michael Cowden

    Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

    Read more from Michael Cowden

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