SMU Data and Models
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/3deffbc101e10bdb03966a4973925831.jpg)
SMU Survey Reports Steel Mills More Willing to Negotiate Flat Rolled Steel Prices
Written by John Packard
September 7, 2014
Steel Market Update conducted one of our flat rolled steel market surveys this past week. One of the key questions asked during the survey process is regarding the willingness of the domestic flat rolled steel mills to negotiate spot pricing.
In last week’s survey our respondents reported a jump in the percentage reporting the steel mills as willing to negotiate hot rolled spot prices. We had been seeing a reduction in the willingness for a couple of months (see graphic below), actually bottoming in our mid August survey at 35 percent. This past week, 66 percent of our respondents reported the mills as willing to negotiate HRC pricing.
We saw modest growth in the percentages reporting cold rolled as negotiable. In the most recent survey, we found 50 percent of our respondents reporting the mills as now willing to negotiate spot CR pricing. This is up from the 39 percent measured during the middle of August.
Galvanized steel saw a small uptick from 58 percent in mid August to 67 percent this past week.
Galvalume remained about the same as 63 percent reported the mills as willing to negotiate compared with 64 percent reported during the middle of August.
Below is an interactive graph of our steel mill lead time history (open white space if you are not on our website). In order to see and manipulate the graph you will need to be logged in on the SMU website. Contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475 if you need assistance.
{amchart id=”113″ SMU Negotiations by Product- Survey}
![](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.