MetalMiner

Are you concerned about China's export tax rebate adjustments?

Metal volatility can end up costing a lot, and sideways markets can shift quickly. How can your company be prepared for market uncertainties? The good news is that MetalMiner has spent 10,000+ hours perfecting sourcing strategies, and now we’re sharing them with you in our white paper: The 5 Best Cost-Saving Sourcing Tactics. Key points we cover: ✅ Suppliers quoting by the piece? That’s where hidden costs lurk. Learn how to compare bids accurately and avoid overpaying. ✅ Stop overpaying for extras like coatings and freight. Discover how to split and negotiate costs to lock in savings year-round. ✅ Don’t award contracts based on piece price alone. Learn and know all the necessary components going into your negotiation sessions. ✅ Too many suppliers drive up costs – find out how to streamline for efficiency and savings. Metal price volatility doesn’t have to define your sourcing strategy. You can cut costs, boost efficiency and take control of your metal procurement process. 📥 Download The 5 Best Cost-Saving Sourcing Tactics: https://lnkd.in/eXyD_aMB #MetalSourcing #CostSavings #MetalMiner #MetalForecasting #ProcurementTips #MetalPrices

In what feels like the movie Groundhog Day, I wanted to share some concerns about this latest FreightWaves pro-tariff article: https://lnkd.in/gzVSJE-w. Thoughts: •Regarding the discussion of food manufacturing, the article, ironically, makes my point that tariffs can destroy domestic production by reducing exports due to retaliation. This not only means less food for trucking companies to haul, but it means fewer loads of inputs such as chemicals, ingredients, paperboard containers, plastic packaging, etc. After a two-year decline in freight volumes, this is the last thing for-hire trucking companies want to experience (especially when food manufacturing is the single largest industry in terms of generating freight that for-hire carriers haul). •Regarding food prices, I’m very skeptical of this argument. Basic economics tells us that when the demand curve shifts, firms will most likely respond by reducing supply to avoid reducing prices (see first bullet). Moreover, there is a huge assumption here that goods produced for export can be effortlessly sold on the domestic market; I’m not sure this will be the case. It’s also worth noting the producer price index for food manufacturing has been rising this year (https://lnkd.in/eXaC4cyP), due largely to the rising cost of inputs. •Concerning energy prices, my issue with the proposed argument is that energy prices today are likely near a floor, so there isn’t much chance of seeing further declines. WTI is hovering around $70 a barrel (https://lnkd.in/gSXsgJxi), and natural gas prices are running at a low level of $2.5 per million BTU (https://lnkd.in/giu5jtwq).   Electricity prices aren’t poised to come down (https://lnkd.in/gZtf8Jrr), especially with the incredible demand being placed by data center demand (https://lnkd.in/gbrMgJMg). Moreover, any significant drop in oil and gas prices will cause a drop in freight demand due to less oil & gas well drilling, and consequently less demand for construction equipment, fabricated metal goods, steel, etc. Remember, the fracking bust in 2015-2016 was the main catalyst for that freight recession. Implication: it’s good to see FreightWaves acknowledge that proposed tariffs on China and the rest of the world will result in domestic demand destruction due to retaliation against U.S. food manufacturing. Their energy cost narrative, however, ignores numerous nuances. For anyone interested, I strongly recommend this well-sourced, cogent article from The Wall Street Journal (https://lnkd.in/g-HKtkpC). #supplychain #supplychainmanagement #shipsandshipping #freight #trucking  

Continuing our clips from DPW 2024, MetalMiner's Co-Founder and Managing Director, Jason Busch shared insights on how businesses, whether software companies or corporates, can tap into their untapped data assets to gain a strategic edge. 🔍 Key Takeaways: 🧠 From community-driven benchmarks pioneered by Coupa to insights from network and transactional data, Jason breaks down how companies are leveraging data to drive competitive advantage. 📈 Commodity price data, supplier operational data, trade flow information, and inventory metrics are just a few examples of the goldmine hidden in your operations. 💡 It’s not just procurement teams that benefit. Investors are increasingly valuing companies based on their ability to extract insights from these data assets. Whether you're managing supply chain risk, optimizing procurement decisions, or forecasting market trends, your data could be the key to unlocking new levels of efficiency and profitability. Click below to watch the full clip and discover how your data can transform your procurement strategies. 💬 Let us know in the comments what your organization is doing to harness the power of data assets. #MetalMiner #ProcurementInnovation #DataAssets #ProcurementLeaders

The effects of potential tariffs from Donald Trump on industrial metals is poised to impact U.S. metal markets in a number of ways. ✅ Potential Benefits: ✔️ Tariffs can protect U.S. metal manufacturers from overseas competition, possibly boosting domestic production and profitability. https://lnkd.in/eKbWNRU7  ✔️ Furthermore, tariffs could promote the use of U.S.-produced metals, potentially driving job growth in the domestic metal manufacturing industry. https://lnkd.in/g5UFU5Wd 🛑 Possible Challenges: ✔️ Tariffs on imported metals could increase raw material costs for U.S. manufacturers that depend on these imports, potentially leading to higher prices for finished products passed on to consumers. ✔️ Businesses relying on imported metals may struggle to secure materials, resulting in production delays and operational challenges. These disruptions can impact various sectors, including automotive and construction. https://lnkd.in/eNvBR5ug While tariffs on industrial metals are intended to bolster domestic production and protect U.S. industries, they also carry risks of increased costs for manufacturers, potential retaliatory actions from trade partners, and disruptions to supply chains. The overall impact on the U.S. industrial metals market will depend on the balance between these positive and negative effects.  For ongoing updates about how potential tariffs could impact your business, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eHy4mzb7

At DPW Amsterdam 2024, MetalMiner’s Jason Busch spoke about the value of data science for metal sourcing companies. Every organization, whether a software company or a manufacturer, holds untapped data assets that can revolutionize decision-making. From commodity price information to transactional data, trade flow insights, and supplier performance metrics, these assets have the potential to deliver unparalleled value when analyzed deeply and strategically. For metal purchasing companies, this isn’t just theory—it’s a practical roadmap for navigating volatile markets and achieving cost savings. With tools like data science and predictive analytics, businesses can: ✅ Identify patterns in price volatility ✅ Optimize supplier performance and inventory management ✅ Leverage trade flow data to forecast supply risks Ready to see how data science is shaping the future of metal procurement? Watch the following clip from Jason’s DPW Amsterdam session. Also, be sure to read MetalMiner’s free resource "Data Science: The Key to Cost Savings". 👉 https://lnkd.in/dZ7qK8mC #ProcurementInnovation #procurement #DataScience #MetalMiner #IndustrialMetals #SaaS #SupplyChainmanagement

Suppliers only want you to look at what lies above the surface. However, the real metal savings lie below. This is where data science helps. But what exactly is "Data Science"? In the realm of data science, price forecasting can curate effective purchasing strategies for metal buying organizations. Even experienced procurement professionals are often surprised to discover unexpected correlations in their commodity purchases. MetalMiner's Insights platform https://lnkd.in/gF2X3_N enables the mapping of indices to raw material spending, aiding in cost projections, volatility forecasts, and product evaluation. This approach empowers purchasing managers to communicate cost requirements more effectively with management and customers, while the price forecasting capabilities of such software maintains a remarkable accuracy rate of over 97%. Furthermore, data science serves as a valuable tool to validate assumptions about commodity price movements, ultimately leading to improved decision-making in procurement. Learn more by reading MetalMiner's free resource "Data Science: The Key to Cost Savings": https://lnkd.in/dZ7qK8mC

Join MetalMiner’s own trailblazer and CEO, Lisa Reisman at the 2024 AWMI Annual Conference for “The Economy, Trade Policy, and Metals.” Lisa will dive into the pressing topics shaping the industrial metals industry - from economic shifts to key trade policies impacting metal prices. This is a must-attend for professionals in the Nashville area who want actionable insights and a deeper understanding of our evolving market landscape. 🎟️ Event: 2024 AWMI Annual Conference 📍 Location: Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown 🗓️ Dates: November 6-8 🕒 Time: 2:15-3:15 PM CST Secure your spot now and prepare to gain insights that will keep you ahead in the metals game for the remainder of 2024 and going into 2025! 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eR832uUa

Here at MetalMiner, we're sidestepping doomsday forecasts to ask the real question: what happens to metal prices under a Trump or Harris administration? Read our newest article:

With every U.S. election, a ripple of anticipation runs through the industrial metals market. Policy expectations are one of the most direct ways that elections affect metal prices. Market sentiment is greatly influenced by debates on energy policies, tariffs, and infrastructure both before and after an election. For instance, markets would predict higher demand for steel, aluminum, and copper—all necessary for major building projects—if a candidate suggests significant infrastructure expenditure. Furthermore, the influence on metals used in renewable energy projects has increased as environmental policy has emerged as a key issue in recent elections. Stricter emissions regulations or policies that promote green technology raise demand for metals like aluminum and rare earth elements, which are necessary for a variety of renewable energy applications. Metal sourcing companies should pay close attention to how each candidate's position on renewable energy may affect the price of metals. Additionally, market volatility frequently follows an election. As investors consider possible changes in trade connections and regulatory frameworks, even conjecture regarding election results can lead to potential price swings. By keeping a careful eye on the commodities market and using flexible purchasing techniques that enable them to modify their purchases in reaction to price changes, metal buyers can mitigate this volatility. MetalMiner’s weekly newsletter is tailored to give metal buyers the insights they need to navigate these complex periods. Packed with market forecasts, price analysis, and strategic sourcing tips, the newsletter equips you with timely information to optimize purchasing and mitigate risk: https://lnkd.in/eHy4mzb7