SMU Data and Models
May 28, 2020
Steel Mill Lead Times: Extend During May
Written by Tim Triplett
Lead times for spot orders of flat rolled and plate steels extended during the month of May following steady declines in April as demand suffered from the government shutdowns of nonessential businesses to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level—the longer the lead time, the busier the mill. The latest SMU data, combined with recent steel price increases, suggests that activity is beginning to improve at the mill level.
