SMU Data and Models
Steel Mill Negotiations: Mills in Comfy Position
Written by Tim Triplett
March 17, 2021
The mills are still comfortably in the driver’s seat when it comes to steel price negotiations. More than 90 percent of the buyers responding to Steel Market Update’s questionnaire this week reported that the flat roll and plate mills are unwilling to talk price on steel orders.
The only notable changes in the data this week were the percentages reporting on the amount of wiggle room in negotiations for galvanized and plate. In the case of galvanized, talks have loosened slightly as 9% of buyers said the mills were open to discounts, up six points from 3% early in March. In the case of plate, talks have tightened slightly as 9% of buyers said mills were now willing to negotiate, down eight points from 17% two weeks ago.
As long as steel demand continues to exceed supply by such a wide margin, steelmakers can easily sell all they produce and have no need to discount prices. Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week puts the current benchmark price for hot rolled steel at a new record of $1,300 per ton ($65/cwt). Other steel products are at similar historic highs.
Until mills add capacity and enough imports arrive to reach some equilibrium between supply and demand, steel prices can be expected to remain unusually high and steel mills unusually dominant in price negotiations.
Note: These negotiations data are based on the average from manufacturers and steel service centers who participated in this week’s SMU market trends analysis. To see an interactive history of our negotiations data, visit our website here.
By Tim Triplett, Tim@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in SMU Data and Models
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.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]
SMU Survey: Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices rebound
Following months of fluctuations, SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices rebounded this week, now at multi-month highs. Both of our Indices remain in positive territory and indicate that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times remain stable and short
Steel buyers participating in our market survey this week reported stable mill lead times for both sheet and plate steel products.
SMU Survey: Most buyers report mills still willing to talk price
Most steel buyers SMU polled this week reported that mills remain willing to negotiate new order pricing.
October service center shipments and inventories report
Flat rolled = 63.4 shipping days of supply Plate = 52.4 shipping days of supply Flat rolled shipments and inventories Flat-rolled steel supply at US service centers remains seasonally high. October inventories increased after edging lower in September – a dynamic driven largely by disappointing demand. October’s report reflects lower demand and stable lead times […]