Purchasing News

• Industrial production, producer prices up-slightly
  
  Paul Teague, November 17, 2009
  Latest numbers show little change.
  
• Steel shipments from service centers rise 1.1%
  
  Tom Stundza, November 17, 2009
  Steel inventories in October increase 2.2%
  
• Steel sheet prices fall
  
  Tom Stundza, November 17, 2009
  Supply exceeds demand
  
• Supply trends have buyers sourcing closer to home
  
  Dave Hannon, November 16, 2009
    Longer leadtimes, risk management concerns may shorten supply lines
  
• Sales of power transmission products continue to climb
  
  Susan Avery, November 16, 2009
  Demand for bearings and gears is up for second consecutive month
  
• Oil prices are out of synch with demand
  
  Tom Stundza, November 15, 2009
  Weak dollar has helped inflate oil prices
  
• Nissan predicts big U.S. market for Leaf
  
  Tom Stundza, November 15, 2009
  Electric-car sales seen passing a million by 2015
  
• Grupo Mexico wins Asarco
  
  Tom Stundza, November 15, 2009
  Judge rules against Sterlite bid for copper firm
  
• ThyssenKrupp steel projects continue in U.S., Brazil
  
  Tom Stundza, November 15, 2009
  New plant startups will be stretched out into 2011
  
• Biomass production plant approved
  
  Tom Stundza, November 13, 2009
  renewaFUEL to operate in Marquette, Mich.
  
• Volkswagen shifts to modular-platform strategy
  
  Paul Teague, November 13, 2009
  New strategy could reduce outsourcing to some suppliers
  
• Intel, AMD settle $1.25 billion antitrust suit
  
  Jim Carbone, November 12, 2009
  Microprocessor prices could increase in wake of the settlement
  
• Chile sees copper at $2.70/lb in 2010
  
  Tom Stundza, November 12, 2009
  Price increase is seen rising by 20%
  
• Dow Chemical sells off powder coatings business
  
  Dave Hannon, November 12, 2009
  Former Rohm & Haas unit goes to Akzo Nobel in ongoing sell-off
  
• Air freight capacity shows signs of tightening
  
  Dave Hannon, November 11, 2009
    After a long slide, capacity reductions and demand trends are increasing load factors
  
• Aluminum prices to remain low in 2010
  
  Tom Stundza, November 10, 2009
    New report undercuts consensus aluminum forecast
  
• DRAM prices continue to increase
  
  Jim Carbone, November 10, 2009
    Strong demand boosts DDR2 and DDR3 chips
  
• LCD panel prices down despite glass plant woes
  
  Jim Carbone, November 10, 2009
    Panel oversupply will cut fourth quarter prices
  
• Electronics industry in seasonal slowdown
  
  Jim Carbone, November 10, 2009
    A higher percentage of buyers say business is declining
  
• Bulk freight rates making a rally
  
  Dave Hannon, November 10, 2009
  Baltic Dry Index up 1200 points in past month