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 Survey: Current Sentiment tumbles on tariffs, uncertainty, soft demand
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index dropped to one of the lowest levels recorded in over five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment inched higher.
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: Buyers report little change in sheet and plate lead times
Steel buyers report steady lead times for sheet and plate products, a soft-sideways trend we've seen since May.
SMU Survey: Mills remain flexible on pricing, buyers say
The majority of steel buyers responding to our market survey this week continue to say that mills are negotiable on new spot order prices. Negotiation rates have remained high since May.
Service centers: Mill orders improve in July
SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) moved higher in July after rebounding the month prior. The shift comes after mill orders declined from March through May.