SMU Data and Models

Steel Buyers Survey: Prices Will Move Sideways by February
Written by John Packard
January 12, 2014
The majority of flat rolled steel buyers and sellers taking our most recent Steel Market Update (SMU) survey are reporting that they expect that domestic steel mills will be able to collect their most recent price increase within the first two full weeks of January.
According to our survey results, 54 percent of those responding to last week’s survey believe the domestic steel mills will be able to collect the most recent $20 per ton ($700 per ton hot rolled and $40.50/cwt minimum base prices on cold rolled and coated plus extras).
Those responding to the survey were not quite as optimistic that prices would move higher by the time we reach the beginning of February. The majority of the respondents (53 percent) believe prices will remain the same while 36 percent are of the opinion there is room for prices to move higher. Only 11 percent believe prices will move lower by the time we reach the beginning of February.

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

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.

SMU Survey: Current Sentiment sinks to lowest level since May 2020
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both fell this week, with Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment notching the lowest reading since May 2020.

Busheling and shredded tags drop, widening HRC vs. prime scrap spread
US scrap prices fell on busheling and shredded in October, while HMS remained flat, market sources told SMU.

SMU Survey: Lead times remain short
Steel mill lead times ticked lower across most sheet and plate products this week, according to responses from SMU’s latest market check.

SMU Survey: Mills more negotiable on spot orders
Mills are more willing to negotiate spot prices for both sheet and plate products, according to our latest market survey results.