“Unstable,” “unpredictable,” and “slow” are words that both steel producers and steel-using manufacturers (steel “consumers”) are using to describe steel market conditions heading into 2020. This is a far cry from the enthusiasm expressed by steel consumers heading into 2018 and a year later expressed by steel producers heading into 2010 as a result of the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.
How can we get the steel market, steel producers and consumers both back on track in 2020? Here are a few observations.