Market Data

SMU market survey results now available
Written by David Schollaert
July 5, 2024
The latest SMU market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.”
Historical survey results are also available under that selection.
If you need help accessing the survey results, or if your company would like to have your voice heard in our future surveys, contact info@steelmarketupdate.com.
Key points and takeaways
We go over the big highlights of the survey in Final thoughts. Here are some other key points that we think are worth your time. (And, again, our premium subscribers can follow along with the latest results here.)
- Steel Buyers’ Current Sentiment plunged to a four-year low (slide 9) – a reading not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. And Future Sentiment (slide 11) was eight points lower vs. the prior market check.
- Lead times remain short/normal (slide 13). And depending on the product, 77-95% of buyers surveyed said mills were willing to negotiate lower prices (slide 16).
- The scrap market is not yet showing signs of strength in demand (slide 19). More than half (56%) awaiting lower prices in July, with 40% expecting stable prices month on month.
- Again, one-third of respondents said they missed forecast last month (slide 20). More alarming might be that nearly no one (just 2%) exceeded forecast in June.
- Nearly three-quarters of service centers say they are releasing less steel (slide 28). And 82% say they are lowering prices. None say they are increasing them (slide 38).
There’s a lot more in there to unpack, but it seems we’re officially in the summer doldrums. Make sure to check out Final thoughts for some of the comments and key reactions directly from our sources.

David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Market Data
HARDI: Galv demand improves in October, higher prices expected in new year
Participants on this month’s Heating Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Sheet Metal/Air Handling Council call expect galvanized steel base prices to firm up in the first quarter of 2026.
AISI: Raw steel mill output stabilizes
Domestic mill production inched higher last week, according to the latest figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Prior to the start of this month, raw output had remained historically strong since June.
Steel market chatter this week
What's on steel buyers' minds this week? We asked about market prices, demand, inventories, tariffs, imports, and other evolving market trends. Read on for buyers' comments in their own words...
SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
SMU Survey: Current Sentiment sinks to lowest level since May 2020
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both fell this week, with Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment notching the lowest reading since May 2020.
