SMU Data and Models

Lead Times Continue to Slowly Extend
Written by John Packard
June 18, 2015
Lead times moved out slightly on three of the four flat rolled products: hot rolled, cold rolled and galvanized. The only product which essentially remained the same was Galvalume.
Hot rolled lead times averaged 4 weeks, according to the results of this week’s flat rolled steel market analysis (survey). This is up from 3.66 weeks and we have seen lead times move out approximately one week since the middle of April.
Cold rolled lead times moved up ever so slightly to 5.78 weeks and CR lead times have extended approximately ¾ of a week since mid-April.
Galvanized lead times also extended by approximately ¼ of a week as our average moved from 6.0 weeks to 6.29 weeks. This is 1 week longer than mid-April.
Galvalume remained at approximately 6.5 weeks which is also about one week longer than what we saw in the middle of April.

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

Apparent steel supply remains elevated in July
Apparent supply totaled 8.88 million short tons (st) in July, down 38,000 st from June and 6% higher than the same month last year

HRC vs. prime scrap spread narrows slightly
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed by a hair this month, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.

SMU Scrap Survey: Current Sentiment rises as Future Sentiment falls
SMU’s current Scrap sentiment index increased this month while future sentiment declined, according to our latest ferrous scrap survey data.

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

SMU Survey: Sentiment inches up from low levels
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices ticked higher this week, according to the latest data from our flat-rolled steel survey.