SMU Data and Models
SMU Market Trends: Buyers Bullish on Next Year
Written by Tim Triplett
October 16, 2020
About 72 percent of the service center and OEM executives polled by Steel Market Update this week said they expect the economy in 2021 to be better than 2020. The other 28 percent was evenly split between those who expect more of the same and those who see next year being even worse.
No surprise, their comments focused on two factors: the outcome of the election and the spread of COVID-19. “It all depends on who is elected president,” said several respondents. “It all depends on the virus,” said several others. Expressed one optimist: “The best is yet to come. I’m a glass half full type of person.”
Steel buyers offered mixed views of demand, almost evenly split between those who said demand is the same or declining, and those who see demand improving.
“Demand has been very consistent,” said one buyer. “Construction, both residential and non-res, and agriculture are strong, so our business is excellent,” said another. “Things have slowed some in part because we are running out of inventory that people want or are willing to pay the high prices for,” added a third exec.
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Scrap Survey: Current and Future Sentiment tick down
SMU’s Current Sentiment Index for scrap decreased this month, a move mirrored by our Future Sentiment Index, according to the latest data from our ferrous scrap survey.
SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment slips again, future outlook improves
Each of our Sentiment Indices continues to reflect that steel buyers are positive about their present and future business prospects, though that confidence has eased considerably compared to the beginning of the year.
SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s October ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
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 Survey: Sheet and plate lead times stabilize
Sheet and plate lead times saw minor shifts this week, according to SMU’s latest market survey. Sheet times have inched up over the last month but remain within days of multi-year lows, as they have since May. Plate lead times have bobbed within a tight range for months, hovering roughly a week longer than this time last year.