SMU Data and Models
December 19, 2018
Steel Mill Lead Times: Bouncing Along the Bottom
Written by Tim Triplett
Mill lead times suggest that demand for flat rolled steel products continues to bounce along the bottom as the year comes to a close, with no clear direction yet for the first quarter.
Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level—the shorter the lead time, the less busy the mill. The less busy the mill, the more likely they are to negotiate on price. Lead times for hot rolled now average less than four weeks, cold rolled less than six weeks and coated steel around six and a half weeks.
