April 2008

Metals Can Save Your Life?

by Lisa Reisman on April 18, 2008

Style:    Category: Macroeconomics, Precious Metals

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When doomsday hits and Mel Gibson’s world of “Mad Max” becomes a reality, at least those with piles of canned goods and precious metals should be safe. At least, that’s the idea that some survivalists — or those that practice “extreme preparedness” — seem to share. “The traditional face of survivalism is that of a [...]

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Olympic Plant Closures – Permanent?

by Lisa Reisman on April 17, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals, Global Trade

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Some of you may remember hearing from us several weeks ago regarding plant shut downs in China in the run-up to the Olympics. Well, it has been decided for sure, according to my friend Richard Brubaker who writes a terrific blog at All Roads Lead to China and has been covering this story. But the plant [...]

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Containers Restricting Exports May Be Good News for Steel and Copper

by Stuart Burns on April 16, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals, Global Trade, Non-ferrous Metals

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Shipping Lines use the same principles of supply and demand to judge freight rates as does any other business. Typically a route in one direction is more popular than the reverse. For example containers travelling from China or Europe to the USA, bringing in finished goods, commanded a higher rate than the same containers being [...]

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Consumers (still) Awaiting The Arrival of NYMEX’s HR Steel Contract

by Stuart Burns on April 15, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals

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It was meant to come to market in 2006, then in 2007 and with much anticipation in Q1 2008. I speak of course of the NYMEX HR steel futures contract. But the start date has been put back yet again. Meanwhile the LME steel billet contract has got off to a quiet but solid start [...]

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Reverse Auctions in Stagflationary Environments…

by Lisa Reisman on April 14, 2008

Style:    Category: Commodities, Ferrous Metals, Macroeconomics, Non-ferrous Metals, Sourcing Strategies, Supply & Demand

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Nothing seems to rattle the tail of a manufacturing organization quite like being asked to participate in a reverse auction. But it is our contention that reverse auctions within the manufacturing sector are way down according to a comment in this article which appeared over on Spend Matters a little while ago. There are several [...]

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The Rise and Fall of Precious Metals

by Lisa Reisman on April 11, 2008

Style:    Category: Commodities, Precious Metals, Supply & Demand

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One day, precious metals are gaining; the next day, they’re falling, and the rise and fall of the dollar is blamed. Yesterday, the dollar rebounded after record lows against the Euro, and precious metals prices finally took a hit. “Silver for May delivery dropped 18.5 cents to $18.015 an ounce on the Nymex, while May [...]

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Alternative Strategies in Rising Metals Markets

by Lisa Reisman on April 10, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals, Non-ferrous Metals, Sourcing Strategies

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I am reminded every day how sourcing strategies in today’s red hot metals markets don’t really resemble the strategies of just a couple of years ago. Today, we learned of a company whose China supplier needed to execute a contract cancellation clause because it couldn’t purchase its raw materials at a price to supply profitably. [...]

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Stainless Loses Its Luster

by Stuart Burns on April 9, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals, Global Trade, Supply & Demand

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With both global prices and sales of steel steaming away over the last twelve months, the sometimes overlooked stainless market has been quietly contracting. The market contracted by 2.9% in terms of production last year to 27.6 million tons according to the International Stainless Forum. But the reasons for the decline – a sharp fall [...]

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