Steel Mill Lead Times Extended, HRC Showing Signs of Life

Based on the results of the Steel Market Update flat rolled steel market trends analysis performed prior to the Holiday weekend steel mill lead times continue to be extended. The respondents to our survey reported on the amount of time it takes to get hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized and Galvalume produced from the time a new order is placed. SMU then takes the data and compiles an “average” lead time on each product. Our lead time averages are not to be construed as the actual lead time a specific mill may be quoting to their customers.

Our respondents reported hot rolled lead times as averaging 4.59 weeks or just slightly longer than the 4.31 weeks reported at the beginning of December and much longer than the just under three weeks we reported in the middle of October (2.84 weeks). One year ago hot rolled lead times were averaging 3.32 weeks.