Market Data
February 6, 2025
SMU Survey: Mill lead times fluctuate, extensions expected
Written by Brett Linton
Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that steel mill lead times were relatively flat this week for most of the sheet and plate products tracked by SMU. While we have seen some movements in recent weeks, production times remain within a few days of the lows observed over the last two years, a trend observed since mid-2024.
Following the mild extensions seen in our Jan. 22 survey, lead times for hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and plate products saw little change this week. Meanwhile, lead times on galvanized and Galvalume products increased by almost half a week each, both previously at multi-month lows.
