Analysis
May 30, 2025
SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment rises but caution remains
Written by Brett Linton
After reaching multi-month lows in mid-May, SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices modestly recovered in our latest survey. Current sentiment rebounded from mid-May’s multi-month low, while future buyers’ sentiment edged up from a multi-year low. Both indices continue to reflect optimism among steel buyers regarding their companies’ chances of current and future success, although not as strongly as they did back in February and March.
Every other week, we poll thousands of steel industry executives, asking them to rate their companies’ chances of success, measuring their sentiment today and looking three to six months from now. We use this data to calculate our Current and Future Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices, metrics tracked since 2008.
