Steel Mill Lead Times Stable

Steel mill lead times were relatively unchanged this week for four of the five products tracked by Steel Market Update. Our latest lead times analysis shows that production times on hot-rolled steel held steady compared to our previous market check. Galvanized, Galvalume, and plate lead times all extended just 0.1 weeks, while cold rolled lead times jumped 0.8 weeks compared to levels two weeks ago.

On average, lead times extended by 0.2 weeks compared to two weeks prior, down 0.2 weeks compared to this time last month. Following their peak in April, sheet lead times have remained somewhat stable since July/August. Plate lead times have gradually shrunk over the past six months.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.