SMU Data and Models

Steel Mill Lead Times: SMU Survey Has Them Shrinking
Written by John Packard
December 18, 2014
Lead times at the domestic steel mills continue to be shorter than what we saw this time last year (when prices were rising). The average lead time for benchmark hot rolled coil dropped to an average of 3.53 weeks based on the results from this week’s SMU flat rolled steel market survey. As you can see by the table below the 3.53 weeks is 0.7 weeks shorter than mid-December 2013.
Cold rolled lead times are also shorter than last year at 5.50 weeks vs. 6.04 weeks. Galvanized lead times slipped below 6.0 weeks and now average 5.78 weeks. This is less extended than the 6.51 weeks reported in mid-December 2013. Galvalume lead times also shrunk dropping 0.75 weeks just since the beginning of December 2014. Galvalume is now more than 1 week easier to get in 2014 than what we saw in mid-December 2013.
Below is an interactive graphic of our Steel Mill Lead Time 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=”112″ SMU Lead Times by Product- Survey}

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

SMU Scrap Survey: Current and Future Sentiment tick down
SMU’s Current Sentiment Index for scrap decreased this month, a move mirrored by our Future Sentiment Index, according to the latest data from our ferrous scrap survey.

SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment slips again, future outlook improves
Each of our Sentiment Indices continues to reflect that steel buyers are positive about their present and future business prospects, though that confidence has eased considerably compared to the beginning of the year.

SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s October ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

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: Sheet and plate lead times stabilize
Sheet and plate lead times saw minor shifts this week, according to SMU’s latest market survey. Sheet times have inched up over the last month but remain within days of multi-year lows, as they have since May. Plate lead times have bobbed within a tight range for months, hovering roughly a week longer than this time last year.