Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
October 7, 2016
When we last left you Hurricane Matthew was just beginning to approach the east coast of Florida as a category 4 storm. I was a little concerned about our office building and our home. I am pleased to tell you that the storm took a little jog to the east as it left the Bahamas. Enough of a move that the storm remained off shore and there was essentially little damage done in southern Florida. We dodged the bullet on this one.
I want to thank everyone who sent well wishes as we waited out the storm.
As I drove around this area of Florida I didn’t see the roofing and other structural wind damage to structures that require steel for repairs. This may be different in northern sections of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina where flooding seems to be rampant.
Last week I mentioned that we have a waiting list for the Memphis/Big River Steel Steel 101 workshop. The next one after Memphis will be held in Huntsville, Alabama and we will tour the Nucor Decatur facility. We hope to have exact dates and details on our website towards the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Stay tuned to our website for details.
Tonight is the second presidential debate (9 PM ET) so I am going to end here to allow everyone time to get popcorn and their favorite drink of the day and settle in for the show.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
SMU uses ferrous scrap survey data to take AI out on a test drive.

Final Thoughts
Will a US-UK meeting next week prove a harbinger of tariff deals to come, or will it be just another case of having the rug pulled from under us?

Final Thoughts
When will we see prime scrap become scarce as the worldwide transition to EAF melting increases, especially for HRC production? It's a question I've been asked a lot.

Final Thoughts: The hidden cost of analysis paralysis in the age of uncertainty
With US economic indicators all over the map, it’s no wonder the steel market has experienced a whole lot of analysis paralysis this year.

Final Thoughts
A recurring theme in conversations with some of you and in the comments submitted in our surveys is concerns about demand and uncertainty around tariffs. Where does SMU’s latest opinion polling on President Trump’s tariffs stand? Let’s take a look at the numbers.