Features

• A loan, not alone: Financing firms support producers Jan 01, 2015

  Tailored to needs: Finance providers offer packages to fit metal manufacturers’ unique production cycles and the cash flow to support them.

• Automotive road wide open for metal manufacturers Jan 01, 2015

  Steel and aluminum producers are pinning many of their hopes for growth during the next decade on increased automotive business.

• China remains key to the future of copper Jan 01, 2015

  Copper producers are optimistic about 2015 after a mixed year in which threats of oversupply, a slowdown in Chinese demand growth and slightly declining prices created some doubt about the current and future health of a market that can be difficult to predict.

• Dollar days Jan 01, 2015

  Although the US economy continues to improve, the domestic scrap industry will face significant headwinds in 2015, including a strong dollar that is making imports cheaper and exports more expensive, driving countries like Turkey to seek scrap elsewhere.

• Full of energy Jan 01, 2015

  Oil prices will be key to oil country tubular goods and line pipe demand in 2015, according to analysts who follow energy sector demand, and where it intersects with the manufacture, supply and market share of steel products.

• Getting better? Jan 01, 2015

  Although a majority of respondents to AMM ’s annual survey on the outlook for the metals sector said business should be better in 2015, a slightly smaller number indicated that it will be 2016 or even later before the US economy fully recovers.

• Global supply could be steel's achilles heel Jan 01, 2015

  Despite strong demand from the growing automotive sector and an anticipated rebound in construction activity, prices could decline for a domestic industry that continues to be dogged by surging import volumes, low input costs and a strong US dollar.

• Light fixtures Jan 01, 2015

  The automotive sector—especially pickup trucks—is seen driving aluminum demand in 2015, with consumption surpassing records set in previous decades by about 1 billion pounds, and studies predict that aluminum usage will grow exponentially over the next decade.

• Mexico on the go Jan 01, 2015

  Mexico’s macroeconomic and steel sector trends look good as a result of automotive strength and higher infrastructure and construction spending, growth that has translated into a significant improvement in the nation’s steel consumption.

• Nafta’s coming of age Jan 01, 2015

  Now 21 years old, the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) provides a basis for its three member countries to resist imports at the same time that hopes for the agreement to become a model for new transoceanic partnerships are growing among steelmakers.