Steel Products Prices North America
July 17, 2018
SMU Canvass: Buying Foreign—Risk or Opportunity?
Written by Tim Triplett
Is buying foreign steel today a big opportunity, in light of the wide spread between foreign and domestic pricing, or a big risk, in light of the tenuous trade situation in Washington? Steel Market Update canvassed the market and received widely varying views. For some, placing foreign orders is “a no-brainer.” For others, concerned about the political staying power of the tariffs, the potential reward comes nowhere near covering the risk. Following are some insightful (anonymous) comments from SMU sources:
• “I would agree, buying foreign is no brainer, but we are still having a hard time gaining new import POs because the relative price levels are still VERY high. Customers are waiting for the cycle to come back down, which likely prolongs the higher price cycle.”
