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    Market Data

    August 1, 2024

    SMU survey: Sheet lead times tick up, plate shrinks, all remain short overall

    Written by Brett Linton

    Buyers continue to report very short mill lead times on sheet and plate products, according to our latest market canvass of steel service center and manufacturer executives. Sheet lead times were flat to slightly higher this week, while plate lead times shortened to lows not seen since August 2020. Production times remain near historical lows for all products we track.  

    Table 1 below summarizes current lead times and recent trends.

    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.

    Read more from Brett Linton

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