SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Steel Mills More Willing to Negotiate Pricing
Written by John Packard
November 20, 2014
The vast majority of our SMU steel survey respondents reported the domestic steel mills as willing to negotiate flat rolled steel prices this week.
Those reporting the mills as willing to negotiate hot rolled prices increase by 2 percent to 70 percent of the respondents.
Cold rolled jumped by an even greater margin from 52 percent to 71 percent. Only 29 percent told SMU that the domestic mills were not negotiating CR prices this week.
Galvanized increased by 8 percent from 71 percent to 79 percent.
Galvalume jumped by 9 percentage points from 58 percent to 67 percent.
You can see how negotiations have been trending since the middle of June 2014. You are also welcome to go online where you can find the total history regarding mill negotiations.
Below is an interactive graphic of the Steel Market Update Steel Mill Negotiation History, but it can only be seen when you are logged into the website and reading the newsletter online. If you need any assistance logging in or navigating the website, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475.
{amchart id=”113″ SMU Negotiations 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.