SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment: Dips on Availability Concerns

Sentiment among steel buyers, as measured by Steel Market Update’s Dec. 21 questionnaire, saw a small dip as the year comes to a close on concerns about tight steel supplies. As one respondent said, “We need supply in order to be successful. I am not able to line that all up so far for 2021.” Added another expressing a common lament: “Our only concern is steel availability, especially for coated products through the first quarter. We need the mills to open up some availability for spot in February.”

Every two weeks, SMU asks steel buyers how they view their company’s chances for success in the current environment as well as three to six months in the future. The Current Sentiment Index declined by seven points to a still-healthy reading of +61. That’s still up by 69 points from the pandemic-induced low of -8 back in April.