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| METALS OUTLOOK 2000
PRODUCT UPDATE
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
PURCHASING HOTLINE - Expect overall economic growth to slow down next year, but only a little
- Plan on mega-mergers among large commodity producers in metals, chemicals, and plastics to apply upward price pressure on commodities
- Want to be up-to-date on the latest in non-traditional purchasing?
- Look for machine tool orders to rebound next year.
- Do you need a law degree to be an effective purchasing professional?
- Beware of attempts by ocean carriers to impose "equipment imbalance" surcharges
- Expect only minor slippage in oil prices through rest of year
- Look for safer big trucks to arrive in next few years
- Plan on at least one rate hike next year
- Keep an eye on appeal of '98 case that could affect rail rates.
- If you want to know what to expect in purchasing over the next decade
- Expect suppliers of titanium dioxide to raise prices
- Keep close watch on proposed agreement between two German ocean carriers to offer joint service contracts to shippers.
- Need guidance in benchmarking practices?
- Expect to pay more for pulp in coming months
- Keep an eye on new foam that can enhance automotive aerodynamics and personal computer performance.
- Don't count on labor market getting looser anytime soon
- Be prepared for rate increases from providers of business travel services
- Is your MRO buying strategic--or do you just wing it?
- TRANSACTION PRICES
ECONOMY - The U.S. trade deficit surged 16% in June to a record $24.62 billion as imports swelled.
- Gross domestic product, the broadest gauge of total economic activity, expanded at a revised 1.8% annual rate in the second quarter
- Housing sector continues to thrive despite rising mortgage rates
- Existing home sales fell 3.9% in July to an annualized rate of 5.4 million units from June's rate of 5.63 million
- Recent broad-based pickup in durable goods orders has raised hopes that industry is embarking on a strong second half of the year,
MARKETS - North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted a July book-to-bill ratio of 1.11, reports Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International.
- Japanese steelmakers Nippon Steel, NKK, and Kawasaki Steel have lodged an appeal in the U.S. Court of International Trade
- U.S. sales of telephone equipment, now worth more than $300 billion/year, could show double-digit growth for some time ahead
- Traditional automotive anti-pollution catalyst makers Engelhard of the U.S. and Johnson Matthey of the U.K. control 55% of the world's market
- Transportation company J.B. Hunt Transport Services of Lowell, Ark., has signed a $1 billion contract
- International Paper of the U.S. still ranks as the world's largest maker of paper and paperboard products
- Inventories of linerboard and corrugating medium at U.S. box plants and paper mills rose by 85,000 tons in July
- Overall demand for nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal-hydride batteries will increase by an annual average of 8% through 2003
- Komag is moving production of disks used to store data on computer drives to Malaysia
- Onex Corp., a Toronto-based conglomerate, is offering $3.8 billion to buy and combine Air Canada and Canadian Airlines
- Refined copper consumption is expected to rise nearly 3% this year worldwide,
- Top 10 world paper products makers
PRICES - U.S. purchasing managers in the manufacturing sector paid higher prices for goods and materials in August
- Increasing demand and tight supply are expected to boost Asian rubber prices to 30¢/lb
- Satisfied with present price levels just above $20/barrel, caused by the fall in production
- Major paper mills are looking to boost prices by $60/ton on various white (office) grades
- Apple Computer has priced between $1,600 and $3,500 what it calls the world's first desktop supercomputer
- Retail gasoline prices soared by more than 8¢/gallon at the end of August
- Planned reopening of the Ikot Abasi aluminum smelter in Lagos is unlikely to have much impact on world supply or prices
- Mergers involving major U.S. copper producers may mean some further output cuts this year and higher long-term prices in excess of $1/lb
- Most major stainless steel producers now are working to raise transaction prices this month by 3%
- AT&T Corp. slashes long-distance rates to just 7¢/minute for calls made any time
- Some containerboard mills are trying to gauge buyer reactions to the possibility of higher prices
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