It remains difficult for all of us to comprehend how lives have changed around the world over the past two months, and it's just as hard to fathom how our markets have been affected as well.
A brief review of the charts tells us we are in the midst of a crisis, with prices for base metals falling sharply after support lines were broken, while precious metals, energy and currencies swing back and forth violently, and interest rates fall to record lows.
But we will make a few forecasts with confidence, as the current crisis has taught us some very important and valuable lessons:
- We will see a great wave of manufacturing returning to the United States.
- Over time, national priorities will be recalibrated, enabling the United States to become more self-sufficient in our ability to produce metals and other critical raw materials necessary to make products we require and maintain our standard of living.
- Copper, brass, and other copper-based alloys, with their antimicrobial properties will see demand increase for applications in and on hygiene-sensitive surfaces.
John Gross, publisher of The Copper Journal, is one of the metals' industry's best resources on copper pricing trends. If you would like to learn more about how to manage your wire and cable inventory in this volatile market environment,
email John at [email protected] or call him at 631-824-6486.