SMU survey: Steel mill lead times stabilize following months of declines

Steel mill lead times were flat to slightly up, according to our market survey this week. Mill production times were stable for hot-rolled and plate products, and marginally higher for cold-rolled and coated. This is the first time in three months where we have not seen an overall reduction in lead times. Could this be an inflection point, or just a pause brought on by recent mill price increase announcements?

Lead times by product

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.