SMU Data and Models
October 5, 2017
Negotiations: Mills Talking Price, Say Most Steel Buyers
Written by Tim Triplett
Steel mills are even more open to price discussions than they were a couple weeks ago, which may be a reflection of weakening prices, say steel buyers who replied to Steel Market Update’s latest flat rolled market trends questionnaire. More than 100 executives responded to this week’s questionnaire. Steel buyers’ perceptions of their suppliers’ attitudes offer a snapshot of how steel mills are currently handling price negotiations.
Nearly 70 percent of respondents agreed that mill order books are weaker than expected and suppliers are open to price discussions. The percentage indicating mills are willing to negotiate is double what it was six weeks ago.
