SMU Data and Models
October 18, 2018
SMU Market Trends: Negotiations Tightening?
Written by John Packard
Steel buyers still have a strong bargaining position with the mills, but perhaps not quite as strong as a month ago. Steel Market Update tracks how buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel characterize the mills in price negotiations. A slightly lower percentage report mills willing to negotiate spot prices on new orders placed this week for hot rolled and cold rolled steel.
According to respondents to this week’s Steel Market Update market trends questionnaire, 68 percent of hot rolled buyers said they have found mills willing to talk price, down from 93 percent in mid-September. About 32 percent say the mills are now holding the line.
