SMU’s latest Flat-Rolled Steel Buyers Survey shows that in a tight US market marked by long lead times, low inventories, and rising prices, foreign products continue to gain the interest of domestic buyers.
SMU’s Current and Future Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices rose this week, with Current Sentiment hitting a multi-year high, according to our latest market survey.
The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.
Steel mill lead times extended for sheet and plate products this week, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey. Production times have been historically long for most of the summer.
The vast majority of steel buyers responding to our latest market survey found mills unwilling to negotiate lower prices for spot tons. This holds true for all the products SMU tracks. Every two weeks, SMU surveys service center and manufacturer buyers asking if mills are negotiable on new spot sheet and plate orders. In this week’s survey, 9% of respondents said mills were willing to talk price to secure an order (Figure 1). This is the third consecutive survey at that rate. You'd have to go back to September 2021 to find a lower number.
SMU’s September ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
SMU's Current Steel Buyers' Sentiment Index inched up this week while the Future Sentiment Index edged down, according to our latest market survey.
Most steel buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that mills continue to hold a firm grip on prices. Negotiation rates remain low on all sheet and plate products. In late August, the share of buyers reporting that mills were negotiable fell to the lowest rate seen in almost five years, and that rate was unchanged through this week.
The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.
Steel mill lead times held steady for sheet products this week and extended further on plate, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey. Production times have been historically long for most of the summer, currently at or near multi-year highs on each of the products we measure. Over two-thirds of the buyers responding to this week’s survey (68%) believe lead times will be flat two months from now, similar to recent surveys. Of the remainder, 19% predict lead times will extend further, and 13% expect contractions.
Steel buyers remained strongly confident in their companies’ prospects today and in the coming months, according to SMU’s latest market survey. Both of our Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices are holding near multi-year highs and have been historically strong for several months.
The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.
Steel mill lead times remained extended on both sheet and plate products this week, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey. Production times have been historically long for most of the summer, remaining at or near multi-year highs across all of the products we track.
Most steel buyers who responded to our market survey this week reported that mills are holding a firm grip on sheet and plate prices. The share of buyers reporting that mills were negotiable fell to the lowest rate seen in almost five years. Negotiation rates for three sheet products are down to multi-year lows.
Foreign steel remains sharply competitive, inventory levels are mostly steady, and demand is strengthening, according to SMU's Aug. 7 market survey. But buyers are more selective than earlier in the year, even as pricing momentum continues to push spot levels higher.
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. We are sharing a selection of the comments we received below, in each buyer’s own words.
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices have been historically strong for several months, indicating that buyers are confident in their companies’ prospects today and in the coming months.
SMU’s August ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
Most steel buyers report that mills are unwilling to budge on new sheet and plate spot order prices this week. Negotiation rates have been low for most of this year, having recently fallen to one of the lowest measures recorded in almost five years.
Foreign steel is gaining traction with US buyers, according to SMU's most recent Flat-Rolled Steel Survey. Most manufacturers and service centers now report competitive pricing, and more are placing new foreign orders.
SMU’s Steel Demand Index saw a slight decline in growth, slightly behind early July, but remaining in elevated territory, according to mid-to-late July indicators.
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices indicate that buyers remain confident in their companies’ prospects today and in the near future.
The results of the latest SMU flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members.
Steel mill lead times have trended upward since last November and now stand at or near multi-year highs for all products.
The majority of steel buyers responding to our market survey this week report that mills are holding a firm grip on prices
SMU’s July 10 Flat-Rolled Steel Survey results paint a picture of a steel market being squeezed from every direction. Tariffs are holding prices up and giving mills a clear advantage, while manufacturers and traders say the policy is pushing their costs higher.
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices were once again strongly optimistic this week, based on responses collected from steel executives in our latest market survey.
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.
The majority of steel buyers we polled this week reported that mills are holding firm on new order spot prices.
North American steel buyers are navigating a market where demand is firming, but import activity remains cautious. Buyers reported mixed import activity in SMU’s June 26 flat-rolled steel buyers’ survey.