SMU Steel Demand Index Moves Lower

Steel Market Update’s Demand Index is still in contracting territory and moving lower, where it has been for the better part of the past four-plus months, according to the latest survey data. And while hot-rolled coil lead times have edged up slightly in recent weeks, demand for flat-rolled steel in the US continues to trend down.

SMU’s Steel Demand Index now stands at 40, down six points from a reading of 46 in mid-August. The measure has now declined by more than 10 points over the past month and is 22 points off from the recent high of 62 reached in February. Except for a short-lived bump when the market responded to mill price hikes in mid-June, SMU’s Demand Index has now been on a downtrend since early April.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.