SMU Data and Models
Steel Mill Lead Times: Slightly Shorter
Written by Tim Triplett
April 18, 2019
Average lead times for spot orders of steel, including all types of products, have shortened slightly in the past two weeks. Hot rolled lead times now average around four weeks, cold rolled and Galvalume around six weeks, and galvanized down to nearly six and a half weeks. Lead times for plate are now less than six weeks, according to Steel Market Update data.
Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level. The shorter the lead time, the less busy the mill and the more likely they are to negotiate on price. (The latest SMU data shows that most mills are open to price negotiations in the current environment; see related story in this issue.)
Hot rolled lead times now average 4.13 weeks, down from 4.28 weeks reported in early April. Current lead times for hot rolled are well below the 5.68 weeks at this time last year when steel was in strong demand.
Cold rolled orders currently have a lead time of 6.10 weeks, down from 6.57 weeks just two weeks ago. Cold rolled lead times at this time last year stretched to 7.75 weeks.
Average lead times for galvanized dipped to 6.65 weeks from 6.96 weeks in SMU’s last market canvass. Galvanized lead times were considerably longer at around 8.13 weeks in early April 2018. The current average lead time for spot orders of Galvalume is around 6.00 weeks, down from 6.30 weeks in the last poll.
Lead times for spot orders of plate steel now average 5.80 weeks, down from 6.25 weeks as measured by SMU two weeks ago.
Note: These lead times are based on the average from manufacturers and steel service centers who participated in this week’s SMU market trends analysis. Our lead times do not predict what any individual may get from any specific mill supplier. Look to your mill rep for actual lead times. Our lead times are meant only to identify trends and changes in the marketplace. To see an interactive history of our Steel Mill Lead Times data, visit our website here.
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Sheet lead times ease further, plate hits one-year high
Steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey report a continued softening in sheet lead times. Meanwhile, plate lead times have moderately extended and are at a one-year high.
SMU Survey: Buyers report more price flexibility from mills
Nearly half of the steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey say domestic mills are showing increased willingness to negotiate pricing on new spot orders. This marks a significant shift from the firmer stance mills held in prior weeks.
SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment Indices fall
Current Sentiment Index dropped six points to +42 this week compared to two weeks earlier. It has fallen in every successive survey since reaching a 2025 high of +66 on Feb. 19.
March service center shipments and inventories report
Steel service center shipments and inventories report through March 2024.
Apparent steel supply contracts in February
The amount of finished steel that entered the US market in February receded from January’s peak, according to our analysis of Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.