Market Data

Steel Mills Negotiable on Most Flat Rolled Steel Spot Pricing
Written by John Packard
August 6, 2015
With the exception of Galvalume, all of the other flat rolled steels followed by Steel Market Update saw at least two-thirds of our survey respondents reporting the mills as willing to negotiate spot pricing.
Eighty percent of those responding to our inquiries about hot rolled pricing termed the mills as willing to negotiate. Cold rolled was 68 percent, down from the 77 percent reported in mid-July while galvanized was essentially unchanged at 78 percent.
Galvalume remained the same as mid-July when it bucked the trend with only one-third of the respondents reporting prices as negotiable.
A side note: The data for both lead times and negotiations comes from only service center and manufacturer respondents. We do not include commentary from the steel mills, trading companies or toll processors in this particular group of questions.
To see an interactive history of our Steel Mill Negotiations data, visit our website here.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Market Data
Chicago Business Barometer improves but still contracts in October
The Chicago Business Barometer’s October reading still indicates a cooling in general business activity despite posting a surprise gain.
Drilling activity slows at October’s end in US and Canada
The latest Baker Hughes rig count report showed oil and gas drilling slowing in both the US and Canada last week.
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 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.

