Purchasing

The bulls are still running
Base metals cost more than ever before—often substantially more—in a continuing inflationary surge caused by tightness in supply of feedstocks and scrap, a surge in Chinese buying of finished mill products and investment activity by retirement fund managers and speculators. The best guess from commodity economists is that buyers will see another 35% price explosion this year for a m...

• Lean takes off at Cessna
• How to: Identify Available Suppliers
• Commodities forecasting: It's all in your head
• Plastics firm unlocks value of early supplier involvement
• Avoid counterfeit electronic components

Chemicals Edition Business Intelligence-Chemtura's 1Q spike in materials and energy prices; Buyers reporting increased energy prices in May Chemforecast Glycerin prices tick up in 2007 as imports slow to a trickle Pricing News Pricing News Supplier Management Plastics firm unlocks value of early supplier involvement Electronics and Technology Edition Electronics Trends Prices will fall for ceramic capacitors Business Intelligence-Electronics purchasers who say business is improving; Buyers who plan to increase purchase orders in the next 90 days; Purchasers who say semiconductor prices will rise over the next 90 days Independents push for quality Intel, Micron ship 50nm NAND flash Nu Horizons led the pack in sales growth Distributors see India as a growth driver TTI to carry discrete chips

Metals Business Intelligence-Cost of newest gold coin;Estimated 2007 copper price/lb; Estimated 2008 aluminum price/lb Chips Aluminum Alcoa vs. Alcan: A takeover battle that won't be resolved anytime soon Aluminum Suppliers hope automakers will boost use in future models Cobalt Idaho plant scheduled for '08 Commodities China may try to bypass exchanges and source materials directly Copper Limited water sources in Chile could lead to higher costs of production No consensus yet on pricing Gold Gold dDemand rose 4%in first quarter Metals at Midyear The bulls are still running Steel Mittal Steel enters export market Analyst: Market is weaker than the mills suggest Steel Consolidation heats up but impact on buying community is unclear Steel Plate and Beams Steel Plate and Beams: Heavy steel market is busy; buyers balk at higher prices Zinc Researcher sees strong demand for years to come News and Departments Black Belt Negotiators 'It's your problem, not ours.' Economy + Supply Economy + Supply Durables Barely Improved JV Plans New Nor Chips Steel Smelting Soars Olin Absorbs Pioneer Rubber Use to Stretch Oracle Buys Agile Alcoa Eyes Greenland Home Sales Jump in April Drywall is Crumbling Flying Soon on Bio Fuel Aluminum Buys Expanding Air Taxis Take Off Arnold Vetoes LNG Plant IBM Launches Power6 Chip Leadtime Report Leadtime Report Logistics Choose wisely: Not all third-party logistics providers are the same Business Intelligence-Buyers reporting transportation price hikes in May; Daily cost in mid-May to charter a capesize vessel; Decline in overall rail volumes so far in 2007 vs. 2006 Railroads sued for price-fixing WMS market mature, but growing MRO + Distribution Sara Lee centralizes MRO buy, gets suppliers more involved Business Intelligence-Buyers using the Internet to find new suppliers; Fasteners available at Amazon's Industrial & Scientific store; Grainger's first quarter 2007 sales; MRO suppliers in Ohio earning awards from Honda of America More buyers go online to do business with distributors Dolphin Software launches product for MRO buyers My Turn When forecasting, go with your instincts Office Consolidate the office equipment buy: fewer suppliers, machines Business Intelligence-Growth in the global production workflow software market until 2011; New Xerox office products that meet the EPA's Energy Star requirements ; Target year for Herman Miller to become "100% sustainable" Players Don Linn, director of purchasing, Vanguard Car Rental Group Prices Prices No Problems with Logic Rubber Inflates Tires Electricity will Sizzle Platinum may Hit $1,400 Office Rents Up 5% PPI Keeps Increasing Electronic Powders Rise Kraft Papers are Pushed Gasoline Flows Upward Hynix Yearns for Chip Hike Ocean Rates may Surge Acetic Acid Bubbled SBR has Risen 22% Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market United Pet Group thinks globally, acts locally in managing suppliers Trends Motorola creates integrated supply chain with clear focus, fast results Business Intelligence-Buyers reporting commodity price increases in May; Buyers planning to increase spending in the quarter; Average U.S. price for a gallon of gas on May 21 AT&T provides nine metrics no procurement group can live without Reed purchases BuyerZone Software releases aim to improve purchasing staffs' efficiency Your Turn Tech talk success story