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 market survey results now available
The latest SMU 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.” Historical survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, […]
SMU survey: Buyers Sentiment Indices slip
SMU’s Current and Future Steel Buyers Sentiment Indices both fell during the week of Dec. 6, based on our most recent survey data.
SMU survey: Mills more willing to talk price on sheet, less on plate
The percentage of steel buyers saying mills were willing to budge on spot pricing has risen for all sheet products SMU surveys, according to our most recent survey data.
SMU survey: Direction of mill lead times mixed on holiday season lull
Movements in lead times were mixed in SMU’s check of the market this week – a reflection of the seasonal dip in ordering that is typically seen during the winter holiday season.
SMU price ranges: Sheet surge continues on limited spot availability
Sheet prices shot higher again this week on the heels of another round of mill price increases as well as on reports of production and supply chain issues at certain domestic producers.