New Year 2005 and Asia crises

The year 2005 is here and it started with horrible disaster in Asia. It is still very difficult to know what will be the total number of casualties, but it is definitely one of the worst.

Memories from year 2004

If thinking back for year 2004, there are two matters that comes to my mind above others. First one is the huge demand of steel that resulted high price increase. That has been boosting for all steel tube and pipe producers in the world. The main reason for the steel demand has been China. It remains to be seen what will happen in this year.

Second matter in my mind from year 2004 is the lack of machinery investments within Tube and Pipe industries. This has been difficult time for machine manufacturers and the hopes are now for better times on this year.

My new year resolution

I have not been making New Year resolutions before, but this year I did. I decided to start cross-country skiing. In Finland we have usually plenty of show during wintertime and possibilities for that exercise are good. I guess it is my luck, but this year we have had very little snow and I have been able to ski just few times. Even today when writing this, it is just raining a little. Well, global warming is probably behind this "problem" also and I feel that people are not taking it seriously enough.

Cheers my friends

Juha