SMU Data and Models
March 12, 2018
SMU Market Trends: Is Demand Easing?
Written by Tim Triplett
Is steel demand showing signs of weakening? The year got off to a strong start, but changes in the last three Steel Market Update queries hint at a subtle change in steel buyers’ attitudes.
A bit over half of the respondents to the last three SMU market trends questionnaires reported demand staying about the same through February and into March. While the majority view was of stable demand, a diminishing percentage reported demand improving. Forty-two percent reported improving demand for their products in the Feb. 19 questionnaire, but only 26 percent in the March 5 questionnaire. The percentage reporting declining demand increased from 4 percent on Feb. 5 to 6 percent on Feb. 19 to 8 percent on March 5.
