SMU Buyers Sentiment Indices Inch Upward

SMU’s Current Buyers Sentiment Index rose 2 points to +76 compared with the last market check (Figure 1). The index has been hovering in the mid-70s since the middle of January. Higher prices do not seem to have dampened buyer sentiment.

SMU’s Future Buyers Sentiment Index measures buyers’ feelings about business conditions three to six months in the future. The index edged up 4 points to +76 vs. the last market check. Future Buyers Sentiment had been slightly lower, in the 70s, since the middle of the new year. 

Measured as a three-month moving average, the Current Sentiment 3MMA moved up 2 points to +72.83 compared to two weeks ago. (Figure 3). 

The Future Sentiment 3MMA rose to +71.67 vs. +70.0 at the previous check. (Figure 4). 

What SMU Survey Respondents Had to Say:

“Infrastructure spending will drive our market.”

“Some large projects will be awarded and required by June.”

“Too far out to predict conditions in this new steel era.”

“Three months excellent/six months very good.”

“Supply from imports is not competitive and limited.”

“Price increases will increase profitability for transactional business.”

“Q2 will be strong.”

About the SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index

The SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index measures the attitude of buyers and sellers of flat-rolled steel products in North America. It is a proprietary product developed by Steel Market Update for the North American steel industry. Tracking steel buyers’ sentiment is helpful in predicting their future behavior.

Positive readings run from +10 to +100. A positive reading means the meter on the right-hand side of our home page will fall in the green area indicating optimistic sentiment. Negative readings run from -10 to -100. They result in the meter on our homepage trending into the red, indicating pessimistic sentiment. A reading of “0” (+/- 10) indicates a neutral sentiment (or slightly optimistic or pessimistic), which is most likely an indicator of a shift occurring in the marketplace. Sentiment is measured via SMU surveys that are conducted twice per month.

We send invitations to participate in our survey to hundreds of North American companies. Approximately 45% of respondents are service centers/distributors, 30% are manufacturers, and the remainder are steel mills, trading companies, or toll processors involved in the steel business.

Click here to view an interactive graphic of the SMU Current Steel Buyers Sentiment Index and of the SMU Future Steel Buyers Sentiment Index.

By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com