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    SMU Data and Models

    Steel Mill Lead Times are Shrinking

    Written by John Packard


    Flat rolled lead times have been shrinking over the past eight weeks according to the results of this week’s SMU Flat Rolled Steel Market Trends questionnaire. Buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel are reporting shorter lead times than what we measured at the beginning of May and lead times on all products are much shorter than what we saw one year ago.

    Shorter lead times are one of the keys when viewing future steel pricing. The shorter the lead time the more pressure on flat rolled steel pricing.

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