SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: 39% of Respondents Will Buy More Foreign Steel in 2015 vs. 2014
Written by John Packard
December 18, 2014
What may be a disappointment to the domestic (U.S. and Canadian) steel mills is both manufacturing companies and service centers intend to buy more foreign steel during 2015 than they purchased during calendar year 2014. This is most disturbing when you consider that 2014 will go down as one of the biggest years in history for steel import penetration into the U.S. markets.
During our flat rolled steel market analysis conducted throughout this week, we asked those companies who have been consistently buying foreign tonnage during 2014 if they anticipated buying less, the same or more foreign tons during 2015.
The majority (53 percent) advised that they would buy the same amount of foreign tons. We found 39 percent of our survey respondents reported their company would buy more foreign tons during 2015. Only 8 percent reported that they would buy fewer foreign tons during calendar year 2015 vs. 2014.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Scrap Survey: Sentiment Indices rise
Both current and future scrap sentiment jumped this month, though survey participants reported responses before key trade news was announced.
SMU Survey: Sentiment splits, buyers have better view of future than the present
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposite directions this week. After rebounding from a near five-year low in late June, Current Sentiment slipped again. At the same time, Future Sentiment climbed to a four-month high. Both indices continue to show optimism among buyers about their company’s chances for success, but suggest there is less confidence in that optimism than earlier in the year.
SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s ferrous scrap 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 “ferrous scrap survey” results. Past scrap survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results […]
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: Sheet lead times stabilize, plate contracts
Mill lead times for sheet products were steady to slightly longer this week compared to our late June market check, while plate lead times contracted, according to steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey.