SMU Data and Models
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/90683f730b399de432426b19b8c1c795.jpg)
Mill Lead Times & Mill Negotiations
Written by John Packard
October 17, 2013
Domestic mill lead times, which had been relatively flat since the beginning of September according to past SMU steel market surveys, are beginning to indicate a modest strengthening. Our survey respondents put hot rolled lead times at 4.07 weeks (last year in mid-October they were 2.93 weeks) which is up slightly from the 3.94 weeks reported at the beginning of this month. Cold rolled lead times are now averaging 6.10 weeks (last year 4.90 weeks), galvanized moved out the most to 6.26 weeks (last year 4.91 weeks) and Galvalume moved out to 6.56 weeks (last year 6.40 weeks) from early October levels which were reported to be 6.33 weeks.
Domestic Mill Negotiations remained subdued according to our survey results. Only 45 percent of those responding reported the domestic mills as willing to negotiate pricing on spot hot rolled orders. The percentages were even lower on cold rolled (41 percent) and Galvalume (40 percent). The highest percentage was reported to be on galvanized with 54 percent of our respondents reporting the mills as willing to negotiate pricing on the product. It would stand to reason that galvanized would have the highest percentage due to the number of conversion mills specializing in the product.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/john-packard.png)
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/cropped-SMU_Mobile_final.png)
SMU’s August at a glance
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of important steel market metrics for the previous month. Our August report includes data updated through August 30th.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Premium1.png)
SMU market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.”
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/cropped-SMU_Mobile_final.png)
SMU survey: Lead times edge higher for sheet
Current steel mill lead time averages are a few days longer than levels seen one month prior, but remain near historical lows for both sheet and plate products.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/cropped-SMU_Mobile_final.png)
SMU survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices surge
Both our Current and Future Indices are now up to multi-month highs, indicating continued optimism among steel buyers.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/cropped-SMU_Mobile_final.png)
SMU survey: Mills’ flexibility on prices up slightly
Steel buyers found mills slightly more willing to negotiate spot prices this week, according to our most recent survey data. Though this negotiation rate has ticked up vs. our previous market check, overall rates have been trending downward since July’s highs.