Analysis
June 11, 2026
SMU Survey: Sheet and plate lead times extend further
Written by Brett Linton
Steel mill lead times extended this week for both sheet and plate products, according to buyers who responded to our latest market survey. Production times have trended higher since last November and are now at multi-year highs. Current levels are two to three weeks longer than those seen last summer.
Buyers say some mills are beginning to catch up on orders following their spring outages, while others struggle to keep up with demand and are quoting significantly longer production times. Imported material is also said to be becoming more attractive, with some sources saying foreign lead times are comparable to those of certain domestic producers.
