SMU Data and Models
March 22, 2018
Steel Mill Lead Times: Inch Out Further
Written by Tim Triplett
Mill lead times on flat rolled steel continue to inch out as supplies tighten and the mills scramble to fill orders. One of the key indicators tracked by Steel Market Update, lead times reflect the activity at the mills and the order levels they are seeing from their customers. SMU’s latest data indicates that the average lead time for hot rolled has grown to between five and six weeks, while cold rolled, galvanized and Galvalume are at or near eight weeks.
About 19 percent of respondents to this week’s SMU market trends questionnaire reported that lead times are highly extended, down from 30 percent two weeks ago, while an additional 64 percent called them slightly longer than usual. Another 17 percent consider lead times normal for this time period. None consider them shorter.
