Market Data
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 Market Data
SMU Steel Demand Index improves but remains in contraction
SMU’s Steel Demand Index remains in contraction, according to late October indicators. Though growth faded at a slower pace, it rebounded from one of the lowest readings year-to-date from earlier in the month.
SMU Mill Order Index fell in September
SMU’s Mill Order Index declined in September after repeated gains from June through August. The shift came as service center shipping rates and inventories fell.
North American auto assemblies slipped in September
North American auto assemblies declined in September, down 5.1% vs. August. And assemblies were also down 1% year on year.
HARDI: Galv demand improves in October, higher prices expected in new year
Participants on this month’s Heating Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Sheet Metal/Air Handling Council call expect galvanized steel base prices to firm up in the first quarter of 2026.
AISI: Raw steel mill output stabilizes
Domestic mill production inched higher last week, according to the latest figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Prior to the start of this month, raw output had remained historically strong since June.