SMU Data and Models
Lead Times Remain a Week Shorter than One Year Ago
Written by John Packard
September 3, 2015
Domestic steel mill lead times continued to be relatively short based on the consolidated results of our most recent flat rolled steel market analysis just completed earlier today. It is our opinion the short lead times are influencing negotiations and most likely explain the weakness we saw in our flat rolled prices that were just adjusted for the second time this week.
Hot rolled lead times averaged 3.11 weeks which is down modestly from the 3.41 weeks reported at the beginning of August. When we took a look at the beginning of July, HRC lead times were at 3.82 weeks and one year ago they were reported to be 4.37 weeks.
Cold rolled lead times averaged 5.08 weeks according to the results of this week’s flat rolled survey. This is about a half a week shorter than what we reported at the beginning of August and well below the 6.48 weeks reported one year ago.
Galvanized lead times averaged 5.66 weeks which is down slightly from the 6.0 weeks reported at the beginning of August and one week less than the 6.62 weeks we saw one year ago.
Galvalume lead times also dropped by half a week from 6.5 weeks down to 6.0 weeks. AZ lead times are three quarters of a week shorter than what we reported at this time last year.
To see an interactive history of our Steel Mill Lead Time data, visit our website here.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
May service center shipments and inventories report
Flat rolled = 57.1 shipping days of supply Plate = 55.7 shipping days of supply Flat rolled US service centers reined in flat roll supply in May, coinciding with declining shipments. At the end of May, service centers carried 57.1 shipping days of supply, according to adjusted SMU data. That’s down slightly from 57.6 shipping […]
Survey says: Market hit with another blast of tariff whiplash
If you’re feeling a sudden jerk and a case of tariff whiplash coming on, you’re not alone.
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. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]
SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment sinks to near pandemic levels
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index sharply fell to one of the lowest levels recorded in five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment marginally improved.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times tick higher after late-May lows
All five of the averages for sheet and plate mill lead times tracked by SMU extended moderately this week, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey.