SMU Data and Models

SMU Survey: Buyers & Sellers of Steel Expect Prices to Erode Further
Written by John Packard
January 25, 2015
One of the questions asked during last week’s Steel Market Update (SMU) flat rolled steel market survey was, where do you think benchmark hot rolled prices will bottom in the current cycle? Last week HRC average was $570 per ton (survey began before our index average adjusted to $560 per ton).
The responses ranged from a high of $570 (2 percent) to a low of $490 (3 percent) with the weighted average being $538 per ton.
A manufacturing company left a comment which probably echoes the sentiment of many of those taking our survey (or in the general steel industry population):
“We waited a long time for the market to drop, hopefully we can enjoy it for awhile. Something will happen and cause the market to stabilize, it always does. The question is will it be planned or unplanned?”

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.