Steel Mill Lead Times: Signs of Shortening?

Mill lead times, which had been stretching for much of the year, may have turned the corner. Flat rolled lead times are still extended, but appear to be stabilizing, according to Steel Market Update’s latest market trends data. Lead times for hot rolled now average about five and a half weeks, cold rolled about seven and a half weeks, and galvanized and Galvalume less than eight weeks.

Hot rolled lead times now average 5.54 weeks based on the responses from this week’s flat rolled steel market trends questionnaire. Lead times on hot rolled peaked in early April at 5.73 weeks and have been slowly shortening ever since. They are still extended compared with a year ago, however, when HRC lead times averaged 4.26 weeks.