SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index Tumbles to Near 2-Year Low

Steel Market Update’s Steel Buyers Sentiment Index fell this week to its lowest level since early August 2020. Our Future Sentiment Index also saw double-digit declines this week, dropping to a near two-year low.

SMU surveys steel buyers every other week and asks how they view their chances of success in the current market and a few months down the road. SMU’s Buyers Sentiment Index registered +43 this week, down 17 points from two weeks prior and down 39 points from the late-March high (Figure 1). This is the largest survey-to-survey change in our Sentiment Index since April 2020.

Steel Buyers Sentiment

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.

Brett Linton

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