Steel Prices

Just bought some steel from M-Machine Metals. The Plate and Box that I wanted the prices were as per what was displayed on-line; however, I also wanted some 60x40x3 rectangular tube and that had gone up from £4.08/ft to £7.20/ft.

Queried it and it apparently correct, seemingly steel prices have gone through the roof in the last few months.

You have been warned!

Xhris

So has timber and insulation, more price rises in the pipeline apparently. I shoot clay pigeons and cartridge prices are zooming up as well, supposedly shortages of lead shot and primers, I think it’s all being blamed on COVID and Brexit, harks back to the decimalisation scams in the 70’s. It appears prices will rise to whatever the market will accept. 🤔. Dave W

You’ve only just noticed!?!

The recent cement shortage was put down to a 20k tonnes order by HS2. Simple demand exceeding supply.

Some new cars are in short supply due to a shortfall of chips for the vehicle management systems.

Supermarket shelves are devoid of some products or have only some variants/flavours.

‘Nuff said?

I have just received a very interesting general email from Reeves 2000. The major bits are:

1. The majority of the Royal Mail service is efficient but there are blips.
2. DHL is working well but there have been two price rises in six months.
3. A recent steel quote has seen a 300% rise in six months.
4. Foundary quotes of 2 to 3 weeks turn out to be 3 or 4 months.
5. As a general rule Brexit has caused few problems.
6. They are open to visiting customers.
7. "These crazy times can not continue ......."

I fear that this is the start of world economic woes just as during and after the oil crisis of the 1970s. Markets and good economies like stability, the one thing we do not have at present.

Don't look for something to blame, learn the lessons instead.

JA

Edited By JA on 11/08/2021 12:56:01

I was quoted in march on12 off 40 x40 x 3 and told the price would hold for 24 hrs, the price was rising so fast it was a daily increase ! So not supprised at what you say.

A crazy world we live in ! Noel.

Not just hardware either - wheat prices have risen 3 fold from around £55 ton last year to £180 per ton this year, weather has affected the harvest (although the UK harvest has been / is being pretty resilient this year) in the USA, Canada and much of Europe the yield is poor.

This will knock on to higher food prices (bread, meat by way of higher feeds for animals, and beer!)

So not just metal prices are being affected.

Martin

Looks like we are "Doomed" then.

Michael.

Covid has inevitably had its effect - but behind that, and much longer term, we're seeing that 'Project Fear' is actually turning out to be 'Project Accurate Prediction'. Who could possibly have known!

Careful... let's keep clear of 'I told you so politics' please

Neil

" Careful... let's keep clear of 'I told you so politics' please "

Simply an observation.

Apparently commodity prices are soaring worldwide and shortages are the order of the day.

Lets hope it all stabilises.

Edited By V8Eng on 12/08/2021 20:26:52

My neighbour's mum works in sales for British Steel and she mentioned that stuff she used to sell for £700 a tonne is now going for £2,000 a tonne.

I asked her if she ever had off-cuts for sale. She said yes but to her an 'off cut' is a 6 metre length!

You may not realise, but it's now getting more worthwhile to collect any scrap you have knocking about and pop to your local metal recycling people if one is handy. Its surprising how much the value has inreased over the last 12 months and even small amounts can soon add up!

If you haven't done this before, you may need to 'register' with them and get a certificate, but it's quite straight forward and is supposed to discourage unscrupulous people stealing things like cableing from railways etc.

Try your local auction, things come in metal cases and I have found that the steal sheets are worth more than the contents.

Network stuff uses BNC connectors by the million, some brass, some zinc, worth the effort of pulling them off.

Just like 2004 or so when the last commodity price leap happened, never really came down either.