MSA begins work on steel crystal ball

Nov 05, 2004 | 08:23 AM | Scott Robertson

Demand for steel products across the United States continues at a strong pace, leading to rising steel prices that have most steel producers swimming in black ink.

But the U.S. Department of Commerce wants to know where this demand is coming from, how long it will last and what the prospects are for maintaining it long term. With that in mind, the department has awarded a contract to Management Science Associates Inc., Pittsburgh, to study and model the future of steel demand (AMM, Nov. 1).

MSA, which has expertise in international marketing, strategic analysis, decision support analysis software and process/business automation systems, already has kicked off its study and is scheduled to provide its findings to the Commerce Department by June 30, 2005.

"We've already begun collecting data," Patrick Gallagher, vice president of MSA's Metals and Advanced Manufacturing Group, said. "It's pretty clear that much of what is happening in the U.S., from a demand perspective, is being driven by Europe and China. We believe we are going to learn a lot that can be beneficial to the (steel) industry."....