SMU survey: Summer slowdown brings short to normal mill lead times

Written by David Schollaert & Laura Miller

Movements in steel mill lead times were mixed this week, according to our latest steel buyers’ survey results. Service centers and manufacturers reported short to average production times, little changed from our last report.

The average lead times for hot-rolled (HR) coil and plate contracted slightly, while lead times for cold-rolled (CR) and coated products ticked up. Average HR lead times have been hovering close to five weeks since February.

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.

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.