Steel Mill Lead Times: Getting Shorter

Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level. Lead times on most flat rolled steel products continue to shorten, according to Steel Market Update’s latest market trends data, suggesting that the mills are not as busy as they were earlier in the year and may be more open to negotiation. Lead times for hot rolled now average less than five weeks, cold rolled less than seven weeks and galvanized less than seven and a half weeks. Galvalume lead times are about the same. While mill lead times are still extended compared to this time last year, they are gradually moving back toward more typical delivery times.

Hot rolled lead times now average 4.60 weeks, down from 5.39 weeks a month ago, and down from the April peak of 5.73 weeks.