Purchasing - May 1, 2003

There's nothing static about buying sheet steel. In fact, it's akin to peeling an onion; the more information the buyer gets, the more questions the buyer needs to ask. Steel-purchasing pros point out that sheet buying is a hugely complicated endeavor because requirements are so varied, supply is so fragmented and price is so relative.

• CPI Edition
• CPI Buyers' News
• Feedstock cost run has stalled
• Supply base consolidates, moves to India, China
• Biz index drops with start of war
• Chemforecast: Ethylene
• Producers hike prices as their costs soar
• Chemical Distribution 2003
• The Top 100 face uncertainty
• Top 100 Chemical Distributors
• Top 100 Chemical Distributors

• Departments
• Buylines
• Sellers apply more science to pricing
• Economy engine idles as war in Iraq clouds outlook
• Inside Purchasing
• How to buy steel better
• Leadtimes
• Stretching trend eases
• Logistics
• Preparing to consolidate inbound shipments
• What's Hot
• Briefs

• Features
• Distribution 2003
• No more magic
• Understanding Markets
• Steel pricing stinks!

• Metals
• What's Hot
• Aluminum
• Supplier execs feel anextra pinch from war
• Pacific Northwest ingot supply shows no signs of improving
• Copper
• Codelco tries to balance supply with demand
• TW Metals sells red metal inventories
• Service Center Report
• Buyers need less tonnage: use fewer distribution sources
• Top 100 Metals Service Centers
• Suppliers must boost service to buyers

• News
• Economy
• How Supply Managers See Business
• Prices
• Factors Affecting Product Cost
• Tip Sheet
• Key Metrics and Supply Alert
• Transaction Prices
• Inflation trend ends
• Purchasing transaction price survey results