Steel Mill Lead Times Retract Further in July

Steel mill lead times continued to shorten into July for both sheet and plate products, according to our latest market check this week. On average this week, lead times declined by 0.3 weeks compared to late June and are down an average of half a week compared to one month prior. Having gradually declined from the April peak, lead times are now back in line with early 2022 lows.

Buyers surveyed this week reported mill lead times ranging from 3-6 weeks for hot rolled, 4-8 weeks for cold rolled and galvanized, 5-8 weeks for Galvalume, and 4-6 weeks for plate.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.