SMU Data and Models
Mill Lead Times Decline from Beginning of the Month
Written by John Packard
August 21, 2014
Average mill lead times declined ever so slightly across all of the flat rolled steel products being watched by Steel Market Update. We have seen lead times bouncing within a relatively narrow range over the past couple of months as we continue to see a stable market.
Hot rolled lead times averaged 4.30 weeks down from 4.63 weeks reported at the beginning of the month.
Cold rolled lead times averaged 6.38 weeks down from 7.00 weeks reported at the beginning of August.
Galvanized also saw lead times drop from 7.03 weeks at the beginning of August down to 6.58 weeks this week.
Galvalume lead times declined the most of all the flat rolled products dropping by more than 1 week. At the beginning of August we recorded the average AZ lead time as being 7.90 weeks. As of this week AZ lead time averages dropped to 6.75 weeks.
Lead times are important as they indicate how strong (or weak) the mill order books are at this time and if changes in lead times are being reflected in changes in negotiations between the steel mills and their OEM or service center customers.
SMU Note: You can view the interactive graphic on our steel mill lead times data below when you are logged into the website and reading the newsletter online. If you have not logged into the website in the past and need your username and password, contact us at: info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475. If you need help navigating the website we would also be very happy to assist you.
{amchart id=”112″ SMU Lead Times by Product- Survey}
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Current Buyers’ Sentiment Index jumps, Future Sentiment slips
SMU’s Current Buyers’ Sentiment Index rocketed up this week, while the Future Buyers’ Sentiment Index edged down. The two indices are almost at parity.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times stretch to 10-month highs
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 […]
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.
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.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times fluctuate, extensions expected
While we have seen some movements in recent weeks, steel mill production times remain within a few days of the historical lows observed over the last two years, a trend observed since mid-2024.