June 2006

If you are a service center, click here for a free subscription. If you are not a service center but would like a subscription, click here.

Where are All the Railcars?
The continuing shortage of truck drivers is prompting metals suppliers to consider rail transportation. Demand for rail service already far exceeds the supply of railcars, however. With shippers in other industries snapping up most of the available cars, metals suppliers see mostly disappointment at the end of the tunnel.

Structurals Build Staying Power
Producers and distributors of beams and other structural steel products expect the recent, long-awaited upswing in demand to last for the next few years.

Service Centers Carry Momentum
Into Second Quarter
With almost all reporting strong sales and earnings in the first quarter, service center executives appear optimistic about the metals market’s mid-year prospects in this roundup of industry companies’ first-quarter conference calls with analysts and investors.

2006 Directory of Master Distributors
Metal Center News’ annual listing of master distributors—distributors who sell to other distributors—is an invaluable tool for service centers seeking new sources for special and hard-to-find products. Master distributors play an important role in the marketplace, giving service centers an alternative to ordering in mill quantities and helping to remove redundant and excess inventories from the distribution channel. This information is not posted on our Web site. To purchase the print version of the directory, contact Pam Patel, ppatel@metalcenternews.com

From the Editor's Desk
Just Another Case
of Mid-Year Jitters?
By Tim Triplett,
Editor-In-Chief

Business Topics
$70 Billion Tax Cut Compromise
Hoped to Extend Economic Growth
By Mark E. Battersby

Service Center News

Metal Industry News

Association News
 

Questions or comments about Metal Center News. E-mail feedback@metalcenternews.com