Mill Lead Times Relatively Flat – Negotiations Continue (except Galvalume)

Mill lead times grew only fractionally since the price increase announcements which began on Tuesday of this past week. Based on our SMU steel market survey results, hot rolled lead times went from 3.15 weeks to 3.28 weeks; cold rolled actually declined from 4.97 weeks to 4.65 weeks; galvanized rose slightly from 5.14 weeks to 5.27 weeks and Galvalume moved out the most going from 5.83 weeks to 6.27 weeks. Compared to this time last year lead times – and these are weighted averages – are shorter on hot rolled and cold rolled with galvanized essentially the same and Galvalume slightly extended.