WHAT’S NEW

CBSA 59th Annual Meeting

What does the future hold for the copper and brass industry? For your business? What can you do differently or better to expand your business’ horizons? Find out by attending the Copper and Brass Servicenter Association’s (CBSA’s) 59th Annual Convention in beautiful Bonita Springs, Florida, March 29-31. Register now.

CBSA Scholarship Program

Each year, CBSA offers scholarships to the deserving children of its member companies' employees. Find out more.

Looking Ahead to 2010

An interview with NAW economic adviser Alan Beaulieu, president of the Institute for Trend Research and NAW's senior economic adviser.

How do you think the wholesale distribution industry's recovery will compare to that of the U.S. on the whole? The speed of recovery in the wholesale distribution industry will be uneven as some markets will fare better sooner than others. Housing for instance, is not expected to stage a big comeback next year. Others who are able to participate in the inventory rebuild in other industries can expect to have a good year. Business inventories fell to incredibly low levels but have started to rebound of late -- obviously great news for many members.

Which segments of the wholesale distribution industry do you expect will rebound first and why? The best and earliest rebounds will occur in those industries that are able to take advantage of the weak dollar, either because they sell to exporters, are exporters, or are serving customers who will find some protection from foreign competitors because of the weaker dollar. Chemicals have already passed through a business cycle low and other industries will soon be following.

Which segments of the wholesale distribution industry will be slower to recover and why? Look for construction-related companies to have a slower turn through the bottom as commercial construction continues to follow housing into the abyss. The automobile industry will turn the corner but we are not expecting a large rebound in production -- expect a slow improvement to yield a positive trend where you can be profitable, but don't plan on being as busy as you were before the meltdown. Other slow-to-turn industries will be those that are highly dependent on financing. It is not likely that business will have much access to bank credit until late 2010 (and that may prove to be optimistic).

Find a CBSA Member

Looking for a servicenter or supplier? Search for a CBSA member by company name or address.

Note CBSA's New Address

Effective June 1, CBSA welcomed a new Executive Director – Susan Avery, CAE – and moved its headquarters to the Kansas City metro-area. The new HQ contact information is:

• Copper & Brass Servicenter Association
  6734 W. 121st St.
  Overland Park, KS 66209
  +913.396.0697 | Fax: + 913.345.1006
  cbsahq@copper-brass.org

• COMEX
• LME