|
|
Article: Demand is down--and dropping.(Industry overview)
- Article from:
- Purchasing
- Article date:
- April 9, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
By Tom Stundza
The outlook shows a tough environment ahead for suppliers. That's because market analysts see no demand improvement in 2009, and only very little in 2010. So, prices continue to slide down.
Steel and nonferrous pipe and tube markets have been deteriorating for the past two years and demand in 2009 will continue the downward trend. Reason: There has been strong correlation between tubular products purchasing and such faltering economic dynamics as residential and non-residential construction, natural gas exploration, agricultural spending, consumer goods manufacture and highway spending.
Currently, even steel tube suppliers expect ...