SMU Data and Models
Survey Results: Service Centers & Spot Warehouse/ Dealer Sales
Written by John Packard
March 23, 2013
SMU was following up on an article we did earlier this week regarding service center spot sales to other warehouses/dealers during our survey process. We wanted to go out to a larger audience and see what kind of impact distributors were seeing in their sales to other distributors. What we found through our survey is most service centers reporting that their spot sales either remained about the same (55 percent) or has actually improved (20 percent). Only 25 percent of those responding to this question reported a reduction in orders from their service center/dealer customers.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices stable to start 2025
Both SMU Steel Buyers' Sentiment Indices remain in positive territory, indicating that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times short and steady to start 2025
Buyers participating in our first market survey of 2025 reported a slight decline in mill lead times compared to our last survey in mid-December. After rising moderately in early December, lead times edged lower through this week and are now only slightly above the lows seen back in July and November. Overall, production times have remained historically short since last summer, with minimal movement since then.
SMU’s December at a glance
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of important steel market metrics for the previous month. Our latest report includes data updated through December 31st.
SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices contrast at year end
Both of our Sentiment Indices remain in positive territory and indicate that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times contract slightly, remain short
Steel mill production times have seen very little change since September, according to buyers participating in our latest market survey.