On August 9, 2018, Original Equipment Suppliers Association
("OESA") held its 2018 Automotive Commodities Event
covering a variety of topics related to commodities purchasing,
including strategies for price risk management, insights into
future mixed material usage in the automotive industry, and legal
strategies for navigating volatile commodity markets. Highlights of
the issues discussed during the event include:
Commodity Pricing – Commodity markets are
more global than ever, but remain defined by volatility. Prices can
shift based on a variety of events around the world, including
economic factors, force majeure events, political unrest, and
government policies (including tariffs). Pricing trends vary by
material. For example, steel is close to its seven-year high, while
certain other metals, including aluminum, have seen pricing
declines.
