Steel Mill Lead Times: Mills Getting Busier?

Mill lead times for spot orders of flat rolled showed early signs of lengthening in the first week of November following the $40 per ton price increase announcements Oct. 24-25. Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level. Thus, this data suggests the mills are getting busier as buyers step up to place orders ahead of increasing prices.

The average lead time for hot rolled is now up to nearly four and a half weeks, cold rolled is over six weeks and coated steels are nearly seven weeks. Plate lead times are up to four and a half weeks, according to data gathered by Steel Market Update on Monday and Tuesday of this past week.