Squeezed in the middle: What downstream buyers need to watch now

The downstream market is feeling the squeeze. From can makers to auto OEMs, everyone is staring down a new cost curve. In some cases, the Midwest premium alone accounts for a third to half of the total delivered price. Trying to pass that through is no easy task. End users in construction, packaging, and consumer goods are already pushing back. Some are delaying orders. Others are testing substitutes. Quotes are sitting in limbo. The pricing environment isn’t just about inflation anymore. It’s about uncertainty.