SMU Data and Models
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Comparison Price Indices: Taking a Breather
Written by John Packard
December 8, 2013
With the exception of SMU all of the flat rolled steel indices were status quo from last week to this week.
Benchmark hot rolled is right about $670 for everyone but Platts who sees the market up $10 higher than everyone else. Cold rolled is $780ish for everyone but Steel Orbis who has it down $10. Galvanized is where we have a spread as we picked up some lower numbers than anticipated this past week during our survey process. We will see if this was an anomaly early this week when we talk with our price providers.
Are the current price levels a breather before the mills push the market – or is this the Goldilocks level where everyone is happy?
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John Packard
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Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that steel mill lead times were stretching out this week for sheet and plate products tracked by SMU. The results weren’t much of a surprise. Production times have begun moving out following a wave of frenzied buying in response to stricter Section 232 announced by the Trump […]
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SMU Survey: Mills slam door on buyers looking to talk price
Mills’ flexibility on price for spot orders has taken a nosedive to levels not seen since the end of March 2023.
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SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment indicates increased optimism
After reaching multi-month lows in mid-January, SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices rebounded this week to some of the highest readings recorded in months.
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SMU Survey: Mill lead times fluctuate, extensions expected
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