Analysis

May 5, 2026
SMU's Mill Order Index improved in March
Written by David Schollaert
SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) recovered in March, gaining some momentum after a marginal decline in February. The result came as service center on-order volumes increased, supported by higher overall shipments, according to our latest service center inventories data.
Mill new order entries in March ticked up, supported by efforts at the service center level to keep backfill inventories in line with demand. The dynamic remains complicated as the market continues to experience a supply-side squeeze.

