SMU Data and Models
Distributor Inventories Drop, According to “SMU Flash Report”
Written by John Packard
February 6, 2018
Flat rolled steel inventories being held on service center floors dropped as of the end of January, according to the Steel Market Update (SMU) Flash Report.
SMU reached out to the companies registered to participate in our inventory analysis today to produce our initial “Flash Report.” This report provides early guidance on changes in inventory levels based on at least 50 percent of the companies responding. We will produce our full report prior to the 14th of the month. This information will be provided first to the service centers who provide data and then to our Premium level members. We are sharing this report with our Executive level members to give them exposure to one of the products that is available every month to our Premium clients.
Based on approximately 50 percent of the distributors reporting as of 5 p.m. this afternoon, the number of months of supply dropped to 2.7 months from the 3.0 months of supply reported as of the end of December.
By the numbers:
The percentage of companies reporting higher inventories = 33 percent.
The percentage of companies reporting lower inventories = 42 percent.
The percentage of companies reporting stable inventories = 25 percent.
What we found in our initial analysis of the numbers is those companies reporting lower inventories saw significant movement with a number of them reporting a decline of more than one-half to as much as one full month of inventory compared with the end of December.
We will provide more details once our full report comes out by no later than early next week (prior to any MSCI release).
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Scrap Survey: Sentiment Indices rise
Both current and future scrap sentiment jumped this month, though survey participants reported responses before key trade news was announced.
SMU Survey: Sentiment splits, buyers have better view of future than the present
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposite directions this week. After rebounding from a near five-year low in late June, Current Sentiment slipped again. At the same time, Future Sentiment climbed to a four-month high. Both indices continue to show optimism among buyers about their company’s chances for success, but suggest there is less confidence in that optimism than earlier in the year.
SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s ferrous scrap 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 “ferrous scrap survey” results. Past scrap survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results […]
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: Sheet lead times stabilize, plate contracts
Mill lead times for sheet products were steady to slightly longer this week compared to our late June market check, while plate lead times contracted, according to steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey.