SMU Data and Models
May 22, 2014
Steel Mills More Willing to Negotiate Steel Prices
Written by John Packard
Lead times are reported as being relatively stable compared to two weeks ago, but down slightly from the cycle highs which were achieved within the past two months. Our manufacturing and service center respondents reported the domestic steel mills as becoming more flexible in their flat rolled steel price negotiations.
Fifty percent of the manufacturing companies and service centers responding reported the domestic steel mills as willing to negotiate hot rolled pricing. This is up from 30 percent at the beginning of the month of May and well above the 21 percent measured back in mid-April 2014.
