SMU Data and Models
October 10, 2019
Steel Mill Lead Times: Still Slightly Shorter
Written by Tim Triplett
Mill lead times for all flat rolled sheet products continued to see slight shortening over the past month. The average lead time for hot rolled is now down to nearly three and a half weeks, cold rolled is less than five and a half weeks and coated steels are less than six and a half weeks. Plate lead times remain around four weeks, according to data gathered this week by Steel Market Update.
Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level. The shorter the lead time, the less busy the mills, and the more likely they are to discount prices.
