Steel Mill Lead Times Hold Steady

Buyers surveyed this week reported mill lead times ranging from 4–6 weeks for hot rolled, 5–8 weeks for cold rolled, 5–7 weeks for galvanized, 6–8 weeks for Galvalume, and 4–6 weeks for plate.

SMU’s hot rolled lead times lengthened by 0.3 weeks compared to both two weeks ago and one month prior, now standing at 4.4 weeks. HR lead times have extended by half a week since the recent low in late July. The lowest hot rolled level this year was 3.8 weeks seen in January and in February. The record low in our ~11-year data history was 2.8 weeks in October 2016.

Cold rolled lead times shrunk by 0.5 weeks to 6.0 weeks, the fourth lowest level recorded so far this year. Galvanized lead times also declined, sliding 0.2 weeks to 6.2 weeks (our record low was 4.8 weeks in February 2015). The average Galvalume lead time rose by 0.5 weeks to 7.0 weeks. Note that Galvalume figures can be more volatile due to the limited size of that market and our smaller sample size. One month ago, Galvalume lead times were 6.3 weeks.

Plate lead times eased 0.3 weeks to 4.6 weeks, now at the lowest level seen since early March. The lowest plate lead time this year was 4.1 weeks in early February. In our four-year history of plate lead times, the lowest figure we have recorded was 3.2 weeks in May 2020.

Approximately 74% of the executives responding to this week’s questionnaire told SMU they were seeing stable lead times, unchanged from our previous survey. 18% reported lead times were slipping and 8% said lead times were extending, relatively unchanged from levels two weeks ago. Here is what a few of our respondents had to say:

“Customers are only buying what they absolutely need, mills will not nail down pricing.”

“Lead times are still short, some mills firming up.”

“Things are stable, but they’re so short it is wild.”

“Stable and short.”

“Shorter than normal.”

“Maybe a little movement longer.”

Looking at lead times on a three-month moving average (3MMA) can smooth out the variability in the biweekly readings. As a 3MMA, all products were steady or down compared to two weeks prior. The latest 3MMA lead time for hot rolled held steady at 4.1 weeks, unchanged since mid-August and one of the lowest levels seen since the summer of 2020. Cold rolled and galvanized both moved lower by 0.1 weeks to 6.0 weeks, but were at two-year lows. Galvalume held steady at 6.3 weeks, while plate eased 0.2 weeks to 4.9 weeks (now nearing a six-month low).

Note: These lead times are based on the average from manufacturers and steel service centers who participated in this week’s SMU market trends analysis. SMU measures lead times as the time it takes from when an order is placed with the mill to when the order is processed and ready for shipping, not including delivery time to the buyer. Our lead times do not predict what any individual may get from any specific mill supplier. Look to your mill rep for actual lead times. To see an interactive history of our Steel Mill Lead Times data, visit our website here.

By Brett Linton, Brett@SteelMarketUpdate.com