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.