SMU Data and Models
Survey Respondents Report Steel Mills as Willing to Negotiate Flat Rolled Steel Pricing
Written by John Packard
June 22, 2014
Based on the results of our survey from this past week, steel mills were actively discussing steel prices and our survey respondents were reporting mills as willing to negotiate pricing.
When looking at hot rolled the percentage of respondents reporting mills as willing to negotiate pricing rose from 86 percent at the beginning of June to 92 percent this past week.
Cold rolled was reported at 75 percent up from 61 percent at the beginning of the month.
Galvanized was 83 percent versus 69 percent at the beginning of the month.
Even Galvalume rose from 60 percent to its highest level in quite some time at 83 percent.
Based on the survey results the expectation would be for steel prices to continue to trend lower over the next few weeks.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Steel Survey: Sentiment Indices dip as buyer optimism softens
SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices experienced multi-point declines this week, though both remain positive and continue to reflect optimism among steel buyers for their companies' ability to be successful.
SMU Scrap Survey: Current Buyers’ Sentiment flat, Future Sentiment tumbles
SMU's Current Scrap Buyers' Sentiment Index remained flat this month, while the Future Sentiment Index declined.
SMU Survey: Steel mill lead times show diverging trends
Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that sheet lead times continue to gradually decline from recent highs. Meanwhile, plate lead times increased to levels last seen one year ago.
SMU Survey: Mills unlikely to budge on price, buyers say
Four out of every five steel buyers who responded to our latest market survey say domestic mills are unwilling to negotiate on new order spot pricing. Mills have shown little flexibility on pricing for nearly two months.
SMU’s March at a glance
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of our key steel market metrics for the previous month, with the latest data updated through March 31.