SMU Data and Models
Survey Results: Service Centers & Spot Warehouse/ Dealer Sales
Written by John Packard
March 23, 2013
SMU was following up on an article we did earlier this week regarding service center spot sales to other warehouses/dealers during our survey process. We wanted to go out to a larger audience and see what kind of impact distributors were seeing in their sales to other distributors. What we found through our survey is most service centers reporting that their spot sales either remained about the same (55 percent) or has actually improved (20 percent). Only 25 percent of those responding to this question reported a reduction in orders from their service center/dealer customers.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models

Survey says: Market hit with another blast of tariff whiplash
If you’re feeling a sudden jerk and a case of tariff whiplash coming on, you’re not alone.

SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]

SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment sinks to near pandemic levels
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index sharply fell to one of the lowest levels recorded in five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment marginally improved.

SMU Survey: Mill lead times tick higher after late-May lows
All five of the averages for sheet and plate mill lead times tracked by SMU extended moderately this week, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey.

SMU Survey: Mills less negotiable on sheet prices, buyers say
Most steel buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are considerably less willing to talk price on sheet products than they were in recent weeks, but remain open to bargain on plate prices.