The red metal advanced 7.2% in December, capping the biggest annual gain in eight years, but it has started to retreat in January.

Despite increased notices and talk of Section 232 announcements, this panel of writers has seen a carbon steel market that has remained flat to-date.

Commodity metal costs remain high. 

November’s base price increases by the major U.S. producers seem to have stuck.

The PVC market has mostly recovered from the hurricane season. 

There has been little of no change since November’s report.  

There has been little or no change since September’s report.

LME warehouse stockpiles of copper dropped (22%) in November.

U.S. hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices were rising steadily in November.

There is continued volatility in commodity metal costs.