Steel Mill Lead Times: How Low Can They Go?

Steel mill lead times were steady to down this week compared to our previous market check. Production times shrunk for four products tracked by SMU and slightly extended for one.

Lead times retracted by an average of 0.2 weeks compared to two weeks ago and are half a week shorter than levels one month ago. Following their peak in April, sheet lead times have been relatively stable since July/August. Plate lead times have gradually moved lower 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.