Cup o Joe - A Metals Podcast

How much aluminum goes into a commercial aircraft? Why are certain aerospace grades so difficult to find? And what could put a ceiling on carbon steel prices? We tackle those questions and more in this Cup o’ Joe listener Q&A.

More launches, more satellites—and potentially even data centers in orbit. Zach Erra-Hernandez explores the growth of the commercial space market, the metals it requires and why space could become another significant source of demand.

Billions are pouring into AI, data centers and the infrastructure needed to support them. But we’ve seen transformative technologies trigger massive investment booms before. Nick Webb looks at the surprising parallels between today’s AI buildout and the railroad boom—and what history might tell us about what comes next.

Manufacturing demand is showing signs of strength—but lean inventories, longer supplier lead times and concentrated demand are creating new challenges. Nick Webb breaks down the latest economic signals and what they could mean for metal buyers.

Give us 15 minutes, we will give you the latest on metal prices. We break down tightening availability, pricing pressure, trade developments, and the contract negotiations already shaping the outlook for 2027.

Aircraft production is ramping up, but aerospace-grade metal capacity can’t expand overnight. Ryerson Aerospace Market Manager Zach Erra-Hernandez explains where supply is getting tight and why aerospace growth could affect metal buyers well beyond the industry.

In this special Cup o’ Joe detour, Jim Reed, Brian Crane, Nick Webb and Mike Carrozzo trade metal market insights for tasting notes and share what’s currently in their glasses—or on their bourbon wish lists.

From Eagle Rare and Weller 107 to Angel’s Envy, Old Elk, Bardstown and a few lesser-known finds, the group swaps recommendations, talks favorites and proves that sometimes the best part of a market discussion has absolutely nothing to do with the market.

Consider it your Cup o’ Joe bourbon break.

In this macro-economic update, Nick Webb looks beyond individual metal prices to examine the economic signals shaping the market. From manufacturing activity and business investment to the massive buildout in data centers and AI infrastructure, he breaks down where demand is coming from—and why the outlook may be stronger than some of the headlines suggest.

It’s a big-picture look at the forces influencing manufacturing, metal demand and the market heading into 2027.

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Nick breaks down the latest moves across the major metals markets, including copper near record highs, continued volatility around aluminum tariffs and Midwest Premiums, a relatively stable nickel market and another move higher in carbon steel pricing.

The team also looks at why steel futures have repeatedly underestimated the strength of the current rally and how supply constraints are influencing imports.

It’s a fast-moving look at the pricing trends and market forces metal buyers should be watching.

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In this episode Mike and Nick are joined by Ryerson metal pros Jim Reed and Brian Crane. The grpup looks ahead to 2027 contract season and break down what buyers are facing across stainless, aluminum, carbon steel and plate.

From increasingly tight heat-treated aluminum and carbon plate markets to reduced imports, lean inventories and strong demand from aerospace, defense, semiconductor, space and data centers, competition for available metal is growing.

The team also discusses what buyers can do now to prepare—including communicating expected volumes, grades, sizes, project timing, processing needs and other requirements earlier.

Whether you buy under a contract or transactionally, the message is the same: the more your supplier knows about what you’ll need and when you’ll need it, the better positioned they’ll be to help secure your metal.

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