SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Steel Mills More Willing to Negotiate Pricing
Written by John Packard
November 20, 2014
The vast majority of our SMU steel survey respondents reported the domestic steel mills as willing to negotiate flat rolled steel prices this week.
Those reporting the mills as willing to negotiate hot rolled prices increase by 2 percent to 70 percent of the respondents.
Cold rolled jumped by an even greater margin from 52 percent to 71 percent. Only 29 percent told SMU that the domestic mills were not negotiating CR prices this week.
Galvanized increased by 8 percent from 71 percent to 79 percent.
Galvalume jumped by 9 percentage points from 58 percent to 67 percent.
You can see how negotiations have been trending since the middle of June 2014. You are also welcome to go online where you can find the total history regarding mill negotiations.
Below is an interactive graphic of the Steel Market Update Steel Mill Negotiation History, but it can only be seen when you are logged into the website and reading the newsletter online. If you need any assistance logging in or navigating the website, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475.
{amchart id=”113″ SMU Negotiations by Product- Survey}
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Steel Demand Index still lags
The Steel Demand Index now stands at 42, up from 38.5 in early July, but off from a four-year high of 65.0 in late February.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet prices tick lower, but floor remains high vs. ’24
Sheet prices slipped again this week amid discounting from certain mills and ongoing concerns about demand.
SMU Survey: Steel Buyer Sentiment Indices soften
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices eased this week, both approaching multi-year lows.
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: Mill lead times remain short
Steel mill lead times on sheet products contracted across the board this week compared to early July, while plate production times moderately extended, according to steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey.