SMU Data and Models
November 25, 2018
Steel Mill Negotiations: Flat Roll's a Buyer's Market
Written by Tim Triplett
Steel mills remain open to price negotiations on hot rolled, cold rolled and coated products, but not plate, report buyers canvassed by Steel Market Update this past week. Steel Market Update tracks how buyers and sellers of flat rolled and plate steel characterize price negotiations with the mills. The steelmakers’ greater willingness to compromise on flat rolled prices reflects seasonal weakness in demand as the year’s end approaches.
In the hot rolled category, 87 percent of buyers said they have found mills willing to talk price, up from 78 percent two weeks ago. Only about 13 percent say the mills are now holding the line on HR.
