SMU Data and Models

Steel Mill Lead Times Slip Further
Written by John Packard
February 5, 2015
Flat rolled steel mills saw their lead times shorten according to the buyers and sellers of steel responding to this week’s market analysis. Weakening lead times are one of the keys which is impacting flat rolled and scrap prices – both down big over the past few weeks.
Hot rolled lead times average 2.79 weeks, which is essentially unchanged from two weeks ago but is much lower than the 3.89 weeks reported one year ago.
Cold rolled lead times also shrunk slightly over the past two weeks from 4.90 weeks to 4.77 weeks. One year ago CR lead times averaged 6.32 weeks.
Galvanized lead times dropped by almost half a week as we saw our average drop from 5.21 weeks to 4.83 weeks. One year ago GI lead times averaged 6.18 weeks.
Galvalume lead times dropped from 5.83 weeks to 5.50 weeks. We are now looking at AZ lead times as being 1.21 weeks shorter this week than the same time one year ago

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.