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April 9, 2008
TOP STORIES
Economists see no slowdown ahead for copper prices
The average annual copper price definitely will be higher in 2008 than in 2007, according to a panel of experts at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries in Las Vegas.
Read more>>

Watch out for $4 gasoline this summer
Government forecasters finally caught up with independent economists this week when they said gasoline could reach as high as $4/gallon during the summer driving season, which runs from April through September.  Read more>>
Nucor seeks wide-flange-beams price above $1,000/ton
Nucor is reported to be increasing the May list prices on merchant bar and rebar by $147/ton, or roughly 20%, and on wide-flange beams by $110/ton, about 16%.
Read more>>


Economic slowdown impacts electronics equipment, chips
Global semiconductor and electronic equipment suppliers are feeling the pressure of the economic slowdown.  Read more>>

Plexus expands its U.S. facilities
The electronics manufacturing services provider is also upgrading its manufacturing technology.  Read more>>

Weak buying causes softwood lumber supply cut
Canada’s Canfor Corp. is taking an axe to production because of continued falling demand and poor pricing for softwood lumber in a construction materials market showing no signs of recovery any time soon.  Read more>>

Spot potash is heading for $500-$600
Prices of fertilizer-related minerals (potash and sulphur) have risen to new heights, says chief industry and commodity economist Patricia Mohr at Scotiabank Group in Toronto.
Read more>>

ArcelorMittal raises U.S. rail prices--twice
At first, it was $100/ton; then, it became $160. That’s the adjusted sales price increase that ArcelorMittal Long Carbon North America is proposing for steel standard rail shipped to North American railroads and distributors.  Read more>>

Benzene prices jump to 11-month high
The benzene market has become volatile, with spot sales prices dropping to $3.70/gal last week from the end-of-March average of $3.82—and then bouncing back to $3.84.
Read more>>

Imerys announces energy surcharge
Imerys North America Ceramics has set a May energy surcharge across its entire portfolio of industrial ceramic minerals, according to David Osby, marketing and product manager for the Atlanta-based firm.  Read more>>

MORE PRICE + SUPPLY NEWS

KapStone becomes leader in kraft paper market
KapStone Paper and Packaging is spending $485 million to buy MeadWestvaco’s North Charleston (S.C.) Kraft Division, making the Northbrook, Ill., firm the market leader in kraft paper and other industrial paper products, based on 2007 aggregate revenues of $780 million.  Read more>>
 

5 Ways ERP can help you implement Lean
Getting in operational shape - becoming Lean - has been a primary goal of most manufacturing companies over the last few years. Why is Lean so popular? Because it delivers what manufacturing companies truly need in today's highly competitive world: shorter lead times, improved quality, reduced cost, increased profit, improved productivity and enhanced customer service.

Click here for more information. 

MONDAY MIDDAY BUSINESS REPORT 
Watch the video in our new and improved player
>> Click here to watch the video

Aerospace companies team up to drive LEAN principles into their supply base
Cessna Aircraft is looking to achieve competitive advantage through superior supply base management. In this Leaders in Procurement videocast, Don Beverlin, Cessna’s VP of Supply Management discusses the company’s participation in the Supplier Excellence Alliance, an aerospace industry initiative to create a proven process for deploying LEAN principles to improve supplier performance.
Click here to view the video. 

SPECIAL REPORTS
Purchasingdata.com Reports
>> Chemicals Flash Report 
>> Quarterly Energy Flash Report
>> Quarterly Transaction Price Forecast
>> Monthly Steel Flash Report
>> Monthly Cold-Rolled Sheet Report & Forecast 
For more price data and forecasts, visit www.purchasingdata.com.

Cessna supply management goes global
Supply base globalization brings many challenges. In this Leaders in Procurement videocast, Don Beverlin, Cessna’s VP of Supply Management discusses the leading aerospace company’s globalization challenges – from understanding cultural differences, to recruiting in-country talent, to managing legal and regulatory compliance; also, Cessna’s globalization success stories in Poland, Mexico and China. 
Click here to view the video. 


COMMODITIES COUNCIL FORECAST PODCASTS
>> Click here to listen to all their views and their advice on what buyers should look for.

PURCHASING'S 2007 SALARY SURVEY
>> Click here for the results
>> Compare the new report to the 2006 Salary Survey

BLACK BELT NEGOTIATORS
>> True stories of business collaboration
Purchasing’s smartest negotiators move from conflict to collaboration fast. Match your wits against these pros. Guess their strategy. Then, read what they really did.

Are you a black belt negotiator? Tell us about one of your negotiation successes, and we’ll print it so others can learn from your experience. Send it to pteague@reedbusiness.com

ON-DEMAND WEBCASTS
>> To be truly GREAT at eProcurement, you need to break down a few walls
Click here to register.
>> STRATEGIC SOURCING: Which path are you on? (and how to get on the right one)
Click here to register.
>> Drive new value with advance sourcing and contract management 
Click here to register.



MOST-READ ARTICLES:

Diesel prices forecast to set record in 2008

Copper prices approach $4/lb as supplies tighten

Purchasing 2007 Salary Survey: Purchasing salaries continue their Climb

Sulfuric acid prices explode

Read more articles from current issue.

HELP WANTED BULLETIN

Visit Purchasing's 
HELP WANTED BULLETIN today for more details and to see more purchasing and supply chain job postings!

If you would like to post a job on Purchasing.com's  Help Wanted Bulletin, 
please contact Lowell Malles, Online Sales Directorat Purchasing via email at lowell.malles@
reedbusiness.com or via phone at (781) 734-8236 or via Cell phone at (617) 281-2907.

READER'S RANT

Reader's Rant on Purchasing.com designed for you, the purchasing community, to tell us how you feel about issues covered in the magazine.

Feel free to rant and/or rave about PURCHASING's feature stories including any comments on the new look of the print issue. Click here to comment about PURCHASING's feature stories.
World Tour Survey: Doing Business in the Middle East

With energy costs on the rise, the Middle East is a growing region of interest for supply chain professionals due to its proximity to energy and other natural resources. With that in mind, Purchasing wants to hear about your experience in the Middle East. Please take a couple minutes to answer our brief online survey about doing business in the Middle East. Responses will form the basis for our next installment of the World Tour series of reports.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

Thanks,

Dave Hannon
Managing Editor
Purchasing magazine


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