Tag: Lead Times

Cold-rolled (CR) coil prices were unchanged in the US this week, while offshore prices varied, though mostly trended up.

The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.

If a trend of flat lead times holds, it would represent a change. And we’ve also seen a few of the other indicators we track slip from historic highs – so the potential shift is worth paying attention to.

Steel mill lead times for flat-rolled steel this week remained extended at historical highs. Plate production times crept out further, while hot-rolled and cold-rolled (HR/CR) coil saw minor contractions.

Nucor said on Monday, July 6, that its hot-rolled coil consumer spot price will remain unchanged at $1,130 per short ton for the week.

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.

Limited spot product and extended lead times continue to characterize the domestic plate market, prolonging upward price pressure.

The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.

What comes next? Do prices plateau and then dip in late Q3/Q4 – which is what we saw in 2021? Or do they continue to rise into 2027?

Steel mill lead times remained extended this week on both sheet and plate products. Current production times three to four weeks longer than levels seen last summer.

Participants in the domestic plate market anticipate incoming price notifications before the end of the month, SMU learned in recent conversations. 

Galvanized sheet buyers and distributors report that strong demand and constrained supply persist, exerting upward pressure on prices.

Nucor announced on Monday, June 22, that its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil will be $1,130 per short ton for the week, up $5/st from last week. 

The US HRC futures curve has continued to move higher, particularly in the deferred months, suggesting the market is pricing a slower return to balance.

SMU released May service center inventories on Monday. And if you’re a premium subscriber, I recommend reading the report (here) if you haven’t already.

Summer doldrums? Not this year! SMU’s latest steel market survey indicates that an increasing number of steel buyers think prices will continue to rise along with the mercury.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

Steel mill lead times extended this week on both sheet and plate products, now at multi-year highs.

Some domestic spot market buyers say they're seeking imported hot-rolled (HR) coils.

Has anyone seen a creature called the “spot ton” in the wild? I ask because they used to be a common sight. And now I hear they’re endangered.

Most companies making steel are making a lot money. And they will continue to as current high prices flow into contracts in Q3. I don’t want to kill the vibe. (No one likes that guy.) But let’s put on your risk-manager cap for a second and imagine what might keep everything from moving up and to the right indefinitely.

Participants in the plate market doubt prices, lead times, and demand forces will cool down any time soon.

Participants in the hot-rolled coil spot market revealed that growing discomfort with current market dynamics hasn't deterred them from conducting spot transactions.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

Steel mill lead times remain at or near multi-year highs for all sheet and plate products.

Market participants report frustration with extending lead times for domestically produced plate products.  

The May Business Conditions Report issued by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) found metalforming manufacturers anticipate stable market conditions for the next three months.  

AMU's May aluminum market survey showed lengthier rolled product lead times coupled with shrinking extrusion and primary booking windows, though inventory building and forward demand sentiment remained cautious.

US domestic steel prices continued to increase for most products as demand remained resilient amid tight supply. Domestic sheet and plate prices increased over the past month, while long products prices were mostly stable, with only structural and merchant bar prices edging up higher.

Domestic plate market participants named extended lead times, increased freight costs, escalating fuel surcharges, and spotty demand as their most recent challenges.