"There is nothing to suggest demand will not return over time. It may just take more time than usual," said Surma. "Last year at this time, we all thought the world was going to end. It didn't. The dark times will come, but so do the brighter times."
He further pointed out economic advantages US producers may have over their overseas counterparts, because the US is able to meet its own need for raw materials such as metallurgical coal and iron ore. This could leave domestic mills well-positioned to profit from projects within various market segments when an economic uptick becomes more apparent.