Analysis
August 21, 2025
SMU Survey: Buyers report little change in sheet and plate lead times
Written by Brett Linton
According to steel buyers responding to our latest market survey, sheet and plate lead times held steady again this week, a soft-sideways trend we’ve seen since May. Production times for sheet products remain just above multi-year lows, while plate lead times edged up slightly.
For three months now, sheet lead times have hovered within a few days of those multi-year lows. Plate lead times have been roughly one week longer than the lower levels seen from this time last year through early 2025.
