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    Plate

    April 16, 2026

    SMU Survey: Most buyers say mills are holding firm on prices

    Written by Brett Linton

    Most sheet and plate buyers continue to report that mills are not negotiable on new order spot prices, according to our latest market survey conducted this week. Late last year, we saw price flexibility fade, and mills have held a tight grip on the market since.

    Every two weeks, SMU polls over 1,000 service center and manufacturer buyers to see whether mills are willing to negotiate on new spot-order pricing. This week, just 23% of respondents said mills were willing to talk price to secure an order (Figure 1). This is up four points from our previous survey, which marked the lowest negotiability rate recorded in over a year.

    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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