SMU Data and Models
October 4, 2018
Steel Mill Lead Times: HR Less Than Four Weeks
Written by Tim Triplett
Lead times for most flat rolled steel products continue to shrink, according to returns from Steel Market Update’s latest market trends questionnaire. Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level—the shorter the lead time, the less busy the mill, and theoretically the more flexible the price. Lead times for hot rolled now average less than four weeks, cold rolled less than six weeks, galvanized about six and a half weeks, and Galvalume seven weeks.
Hot rolled lead times now average 3.91 weeks, the first time they have been less than four weeks since October 2017. This year’s peak for hot rolled delivery was 5.73 weeks in April.
