Psst…did you hear? It’s the sound of helium coming out of the commodities balloons. We’re hearing whispers that prices of HRPO plate can be had for the low $.60’s per pound. Nickel is dropping and is now under $18,000/ton. We’ve discussed how stainless is sliding this morning.

Now is a good time to take a look at your raw material escalator/de-escalator clauses for your semi-finished metal purchases and component/assembly purchases.  The mills are the first to tell you about a price increase and the last to tell you that the price may be headed the other way. Finally, a break from the heat!

–Lisa Reisman