Steel Mill Lead Times: Bouncing Along the Top

Buyers continue to express frustration over the hugely extended lead times for delivery of steel from the mills. One respondent to Steel Market Update’s questionnaire this week described lead times as “late, late and late. That goes for imports, too.” Added another: “Lead time is not the issue. If they deliver 2-6 weeks late, the lead time is meaningless.”

Lead times for spot orders of most steel products appear to be bouncing along the top, exhibiting only small changes from week to week. Average lead times for hot roll, Galvalume and plate were down slightly in this week’s check of the market, while cold rolled and galvanized delivery times extended a bit—none to a degree significant enough to signal a change in the trend.