Service Center Inventories
SMU surveys key data providers each month to gather the latest information on steel sheet and plate inventories.
An array of proprietary products
Explore our proprietary steel market insights. Key features include service center inventories, flat rolled lead times, steel buyers’ sentiment indices, mill negotiation rates, and more. Access everything you need to track market momentum and make informed decisions
Survey derived insights
Access SMU’s proprietary mill lead times, negotiation rates, steel buyers’ sentiment indices, and more. The data comes from SMU’s surveys, which have been helping our subscribers keep their finger on the pulse of the steel market for more than a decade
Service center inventory and shipment data
Stay on top of the sheet and plate markets with SMU’s monthly service center shipment and inventory reports. When you know how you stack up against your peers, you can better manage your own stocks
Flat-Rolled Lead Times
Active steel buyers provide sheet and plate mill lead times. Members can track pricing trends and explore historical data.
Steel Buyers’ Sentiment
Track how steel buyers and sellers feel about their company’s prospects today and in the next 3-6 months.
Mill Spot Price Negotiations
We survey active steel buyers on pricing plans for domestic sheet and plate; results reveal shifting spot trends.
Mill Order Index
Monitor service center purchasing with our inventory-based insight into demand momentum and lead-time trends.
Steel Demand Index
Derived from the market surveys SMU conducts every other week, the Steel Demand Index is a diffusion index and a statistical tool to measure the breadth of change across our overall demand data series. It effectively helps identify widespread demand trends or turning points. An index score above 50 indicates components are increasing more than […]
Latest news
Commerce delays initial margin decisions in tin mill products trade case
The Commerce Department has postponed making its preliminary margin determinations in the tin mill products trade case vs. Taiwan and Turkey.
Dodge Momentum Index increased in July
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) rose in July, up from an upwardly revised June reading.
USW president vows to use ‘every resource’ in contract talks
The United Steelworkers’ (USW) president released a video on Monday touting the union’s commitment to getting a good contract for its workers in the current negotiations.
Russel Metals reports record sales and shipments in second quarter
Russel Metals posted record quarterly revenues and shipments in the second quarter, boosted by strong market conditions and the integration of seven Kloeckner Metals Co. facilities.
Nucor increases spot HR price by $5/ton
Nucor upped its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil by $5/st to $1,160/st for the week of Aug. 10.
SMU Scrap Survey: Current and Future Sentiment accelerate
SMU’s Current Sentiment Index for scrap jumped in August as Future Sentiment saw a sharp rebound, according to the latest data from our ferrous scrap survey.
SMU Survey: Steel Buyer Sentiment Indices remain strongly optimistic
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices have been historically strong for several months, indicating that buyers are confident in their companies’ prospects today and in the coming months.
Steel import licenses rebound in July after June decline
Licenses to import steel into the US surged in July to the highest level since June 2025, according to recently released US Commerce Department data. Final June figures show a 3.8% month-on-month decline, while July licenses show a 9% recovery.
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