Cup o Joe - A Metals Podcast

This October feels like October baseball — high stakes, long innings, and every pitch matters. Mike Carrozzo and Nick Webb break down the metals at bat: copper driving prices higher, carbon tightening supply on tariffs, stainless playing steady ball, and aluminum testing the strike zone with producers eyeing exits. Grab your peanuts and scorecards — it’s time for the metals playoffs. 

It’s kickoff time for football and for metal contract season! On this month’s Cup o Joe, Ryerson’s Pat Ford, GM of Global Accounts, breaks down how manufacturers are locking in supply and pricing strategies for the year ahead. From hedging and premium management to tapping into Ryerson’s bench of experts, Pat shares how global and program accounts are navigating negotiations. Nick Webb runs through the latest on tariffs, steel, stainless, aluminum, and nickel—plus what economic signals like PMI, interest rates, and industrial production mean for the metals playbook. 

Mexico is quickly becoming a critical link in North America’s manufacturing and supply chain network. In this episode of Cup o Joe, Nick Webb and Jason Pounders talk with Oscar Rivera, VP of Ryerson Mexico, about the trends driving nearshoring, the latest shifts in tariff policy, and how cross-border trade is impacting steel, aluminum, and other metals. 

In this special episode of Cup o Joe, hosts Mike Carrozzo and Nick Webb gather insights from Ryerson’s product and supply chain experts to break down findings from a new survey of 13 North American steel, aluminum, and stainless mills. While mill responses point to a broadly steady demand outlook, the panel digs deeper to uncover subtle shifts by material and market. Topics include idled carbon mill capacity, aluminum lead times and Midwest Premiums, stainless surcharge drivers, and what all of it means for metal buyers planning for 2026.

Guests include:

• Mark Gross on carbon steel
• Allison Jackson on aluminum
• Jim Reed on stainless steel

In this special July edition of Cup o Joe, hosts Mike Carrozzo and Nick Webb celebrate the season by connecting the dots between metals and the holidays. From Canada Day to the Fourth of July, they explore how industrial metals shape the world around us—from fireworks displays to market trends. 

Tune in as they break down the latest price movements, macroeconomic forces, and a few surprising metal facts perfect for your holiday trivia arsenal. Whether you’re squeezing in one last update before the long weekend or just curious about what’s driving the metalverse, this episode has you covered. 

In this episode of Cup o Joe, Mike and Nick tackle the evolving tariff landscape and what recent trade headlines could mean for metals markets. Then, they turn the mic to the voice of the customer, exploring how end-market demand is shaping up across industries. 

Special guest Russell Earls, Ryerson’s vertical market manager for Aerospace, Defense, and Semiconductor, joins the show to share what he’s hearing from the field and why optimism remains high in some key sectors. From planes to processors, it’s all on deck in this wide-ranging discussion. 

In this special edition of Cup o Joe, Nick breaks down the latest twists in the U.S.–China tariff saga and what it means for the metals market. After a surprise weekend announcement slashed tariffs on Chinese imports from as high as 145% back down to 10%, metal buyers are left wondering: is this a reprieve or just the calm before another storm?

He walks through the economic ripple effects—from falling volatility and rebounding metals prices to what this means for reshoring and near-term inflation. Plus, insights on how the U.K. trade deal may serve as a blueprint for what's next and what buyers should expect across aluminum, copper, nickel, and carbon steel.

Whether you’re watching for price shifts or supply chain shakeups, this is the quick-hit briefing you need to stay ahead.

In this special episode of Cup o Joe, we break down the key metals markets—steel, stainless, and aluminum—and explore where prices are stabilizing and where pressure may be building beneath the surface. With tariffs, surcharges, and shifting supply chains top of mind, we turned to two Ryerson experts for on-the-ground insight.

Jim Reed, Ryerson’s Director of Supply Chain, and Brian Crane, Product Manager for Hot Roll and Plate, join the show to give us a real-time look at how mills are responding and what buyers should watch for in the months ahead. From the steady $7 nickel floor to creeping aluminum premiums and softening scrap prices, we cover the key signals shaping the second half of 2025.

In this episode of Cup o Joe, Nick Webb breaks down the growing divergence between soft and hard economic data—and what it means for manufacturers watching metal prices and macro trends. From inflation expectations and tariff delays to shifting consumer confidence and the resilience of retail spending, Nick explores the push-pull dynamics playing out across the U.S. economy.

We also dive deep into key metals—aluminum, stainless, carbon, copper, and nickel—to uncover what’s driving price swings and whether we’re due for stabilization or more volatility ahead. Plus, updates on global trade negotiations, what’s next for U.S. tariffs, and how all of this could shape your next procurement decision.

Jason Pounders fills in this month, joining Nick Webb for a jam-packed breakdown of a fast-moving metals market. What do surprise political shifts means for carbon and aluminum prices, and how might short lead times signal changes in buying behavior?

Jeff Penz, Ryerson’s Director of International Procurement and Recyclables, joins the discussion, weighing-in on tariffs—where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and how buyers should be thinking about supply and risk in the months ahead. With service center shipments, Fed moves, and import trends also in the mix, this episode offers sharp insight at a time when clarity is hard to come by.