SMU Data and Models
Samples of Latest Spot Mill Lead Times
Written by John Packard
January 26, 2016
We are seeing a divergence in the normal spread between hot rolled lead times and those of cold rolled and coated products. Normally, we would see HRC lead times at just a couple of weeks less than that of the other “higher value” products. With the demise of the energy segment of the industry that relationship has been upset as cold rolled and coated lead times are extending while HRC languishes in that 2-4 week range at many mills.
The Steel Dynamics Butler facility is quoting a hot rolled lead time the week ending February 5th (2 weeks) while their order books for cold rolled and galvanized are closed. The SDI Columbus mill is out one extra week on hot rolled (3 weeks) and has cold rolled fully processed at 6 weeks (week ending March 5) and galvanized the week ending February 27th (5 weeks). However, when looking at SDI lead times you need to remember that as a company they try to keep lead times short on purpose for their customers.
The Techs (coated steels conversion mills) were reporting their lead times as being the week of March 20th on heavy gauge galvanized (9 weeks) and one week less on their thinner gauge mills.
Nucor Berkeley hot rolled lead times are being quoted as the week ending March 12 & March 19 (7-8 weeks) while cold rolled fully processed (annealed) is being quoted for the week ending March 26 to April 9th (9-11 weeks). Galvanized lead times were quoted as being 10-11 weeks (April 2 to April 9th).
Nucor Hickman and Nucor Crawfordsville were reported to be on an inquire only basis for spot customers on coated steel.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Sumitomo (AMNS) Calvert was reported to have closed their March order book on coated.
Double G (AM/USS joint venture mill) was reported by one of their customers to be in April production on Galvalume and May for light gauge hot dipped galvanized.
We heard Ternium was working on a 3-4 week lead time on their Galvalume/Galvanized orders (which is where they like to keep lead times in order to service their clients).
NLMK USA was reported to be in mid-February on hot rolled, mid-March on cold rolled and late March on galvanized.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Sheet lead times ease further, plate hits one-year high
Steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey report a continued softening in sheet lead times. Meanwhile, plate lead times have moderately extended and are at a one-year high.
SMU Survey: Buyers report more price flexibility from mills
Nearly half of the steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey say domestic mills are showing increased willingness to negotiate pricing on new spot orders. This marks a significant shift from the firmer stance mills held in prior weeks.
SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment Indices fall
Current Sentiment Index dropped six points to +42 this week compared to two weeks earlier. It has fallen in every successive survey since reaching a 2025 high of +66 on Feb. 19.
March service center shipments and inventories report
Steel service center shipments and inventories report through March 2024.
Apparent steel supply contracts in February
The amount of finished steel that entered the US market in February receded from January’s peak, according to our analysis of Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.