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    March 5, 2026

    SMU Survey: Buyers continue to report mills holding firm on price

    Written by Brett Linton

    Most steel buyers responding to our market survey this week said domestic mills remain unwilling to negotiate lower prices for new spot orders.

    Every other week, SMU polls service center and manufacturer buyers asking if domestic mills are negotiable on new spot order prices. This week, just 23% of respondents said mills were willing to talk price to secure an order (Figure 1). That is five points lower than our prior survey and marks the lowest rate recorded since April 2025.

    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.

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