Steel Products

SMU Service Center Inventories for August
Written by Tim Triplett
September 17, 2019
Steel Market Update’s analysis of flat rolled and plate inventories and shipments, reported earlier this week to data providers and Premium subscribers, shows flat rolled inventories of 55.8 days of supply, and plate inventories of 52.1 days, as of the end of August. Service center flat rolled inventories remained elevated, while plate saw a reduction in supply last month to the lowest level seen all year.
Steel Market Update surveys key data providers each month to gather the latest information on steel sheet and plate inventories. The results are summarized in the SMU Service Center Inventories Report, which is distributed to Premium subscribers around the 10th business day of each month. Data providers also receive a Flash Report with preliminary data about a week prior to other subscribers.
SMU’s Service Center Inventories Report includes:
• Total inventory levels from the data providers
• Total monthly shipments by the data providers
• Shipping days of supply
• Months of supply on hand
• SMU Inventories Report Analysis, which includes expert commentary on the month-to-month changes in flat rolled and plate inventories, with forecasts based on industry pricing trends and other market factors.
{loadposition reserved_message}
Data providers also receive additional information on the average daily shipping rate, tons on order, shipping days of supply on order, percentage of inventory on order, as well as the percentage of inventory committed to contracts vs. available to the spot market.
For more information on how to become a data provider or how to upgrade to a Premium subscription and qualify to receive the inventories report each month, contact Paige Mayhair at 724-720-1012 or email Paige@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Steel Products

US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.

US, offshore CRC prices continue to diverge
US cold-rolled (CR) coil prices declined again this week, slipping for a third straight week. Most offshore markets did the opposite, moving higher this week.

S232 lifts EU HR price over US, Asian HR still well behind
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices were flat this week after dropping for four straight weeks. Most offshore markets bucked the trend and gained ground.

SMU Steel Demand Index dips into contraction
SMU’s Steel Demand Index has moved into contraction, according to late April indicators. The slowdown comes in response to growing tariff uncertainty after the index reached a four-year high in late February.

Nucor selects Fives Group for new galv line at CSI
Nucor Corp. has tapped Fives Group as its partner in designing and manufacturing the new continuous galvanizing line being added at its California Steel Industries (CSI) joint venture in Fontana, Calif.