Steel Mill Lead Times Slip Again, Nearing 'Normal' Levels?

Steel Market Update’s market check this week indicates steel mill lead times are shortening for both sheet and plate products, easing an average of 0.9 weeks compared to two weeks prior. This also marks the first time lead times have fallen consecutively since January. Lead times for all tracked products are now roughly in line with levels seen in early March, before they extended sharply on the war in Ukraine.

Buyers surveyed this week reported mill lead times ranging from 3-8 weeks for hot rolled, 5-10 weeks for cold rolled, 5-9 weeks for galvanized, 6-9 weeks for Galvalume, and 4-7 weeks for plate.