Steel Mill Lead Times Remain Short

Steel mill lead times declined across the board this week for all products tracked by SMU. Our latest lead times analysis shows that production times on sheet products decreased by 0.2–0.5 weeks compared to our previous market check two weeks ago, while plate lead times dipped 0.1 weeks.

On average, lead times retracted by 0.3 weeks compared to two weeks prior, down 0.1 weeks compared to one month ago. Following their peak in April, sheet lead times have remained somewhat stable since July/August. Plate lead times have gradually moved lower over the past six months.

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.