SMU Data and Models
January 7, 2016
Steel Mill Lead Times Move Out and Negotiations More Difficult (for buyers)
Written by John Packard
We discussed mill lead times a little earlier this week based on the first two days of data received by our flat rolled steel market analysis (survey). We also reported on what we were seeing from the mills themselves last week when we went through and analyzed a number of the lead times being published by the mills or given to their customers verbally. The net result is we are seeing lead times beginning to extend. As lead times move out, the ability of the mills to temper their need to negotiate prices increases.
