January 2007

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2007 Outlook Survey:
Uncertainty Flattens the Forecast
Though the vast majority of service center executives remain largely bullish, MCN’s Optimism Index, for the second year in a row, hints at growing pessimism and concern about prospects for the metals market in the coming year.

U.S. Metals Distributors
Testing China’s Waters
So far, only a handful of North American service centers have dipped their toe in the Chinese pond, hoping to make an early splash in this vast and emerging market.

Prepaint Outlook
‘No Boom, No Bust’
Members of the prepainted coil supply chain see nonresidential building, remodeling and increasing conversion opportunities as ways to offset declines in new-home construction.

2006 Year in Review
 Buyouts abound, prices astound in the ‘Year of the M&A.’

MCN Case Study: Ranger Steel
Putting It All On Plate
Betting its future on the steel plate market has allowed Ranger Steel to grow from a low-profile Gulf Coast service center into a plate specialist with customers nationwide.

From the Editor's Desk
Price Prognostication
Gets a Thumbs Down
 By Tim Triplett,
Editor-In-Chief

Business Topics
Conditions Ideal for Service Center
Mergers and Acquisitions
 By John Jazwinski, Deloitte

Service Center News: Home Page

  • Harbinger Capital Calls
    for New Ryerson Board
  • MD Metals Reconditions
    Old Slitter for New Building
  • Reliance Adds Encore Group, Industrial Metals
    and Surplus to its Growing Service Center Chain
  • Samuel Purchases EMG from ESCO Corp.
  • Mi-Tech Takes Over MASCI,
    Plans New Processing Center
  • TK Services Acquires Alcoa Aerospace Unit
  • Alro Metals Buys St. Petersburg Steel
  • Sunbelt-Turret Expands into Ohio, Texas
  • Briefs
  • People

Metal Industry News: Home Page

  • Arcelor Mittal Acquires
    Mexican Mill Sicartsa
  • Nucor Acquires Harris Steel Group
  • Chaparral Reports Another Record Quarter
  • Wheeling-Pitt Shareholders Elect
    Esmark-Favored Board
  • Schmolz+Bickenbach Acquires Finkl & Sons
  • Timken Sells Latrobe Steel to Investors
  • IPSCO Completes Acquisition of NS Group
  • Rusal's Creditors OK Merger
  • Titanium Metals Sells Interesy
    in Valtimet Joint Venture
  • Aleris Goes Private with Purchase by TPG
  • Ulbrich Expands Plant
  • Briefs
  • People

Association News: Home Page

  • International Trade Commisssion Revokes
    15 of 17 Countervailing Duty Orders
  • MSCI: Steel Shipments, Inventories
    Decline in November
  • CBSA: Copper Shipments Still Up,
    But Slowing at Year's End
  • AISI: Steel Imports on Pace
    to Set New Record
  • SSINA: Stainless Imports Remain
    Ahead of 2005 Pace
  • IISI: Asia Spurs Higher Steel Output
  • ISSF: World Stainless Production
    Jumps 30% in Third Quarter
 

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