SMU Data and Models
Steel Mill Negotiations: All the Chips are on the Mill Side
Written by John Packard
April 7, 2016
Buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel reported to Steel Market Update this past week that the domestic steel mills are less willing to negotiate steel prices. We believe this is due to strengthening order books, extending lead times, positive Sentiment and improving demand.
In fact, we were learning throughout the day today that many mills are either not in the spot market at all, or their order books are currently closed pending settlement of scrap pricing and having a couple of the larger mills (such as SDI) open their books.
We have had two price increase announcements so far this week: NLMK USA at +$40 per ton ($2.00/cwt) and SSAB at +$60 per ton ($3.00/cwt).
You can clearly see the trend for negotiations between the domestic steel mills and their customers based on the results of this weeks flat rolled steel market trends analysis.
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 SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Mills slightly less negotiable on spot pricing
Sheet and plate buyers say mills remain open to negotiating spot prices this week, though less so than in recent weeks, according to SMU’s latest market survey.
August service center shipments and inventories report
US service centers flat-rolled steel supply in August declined month-over-month (m/m) and year-over-year (y/y), according to SMU data.
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.