Lead Times Reported To Be Mostly Sideways

Movements in lead times were again mixed in SMU’s market check this week, with most products sideways compared to two weeks ago.

A clear pattern still has yet to emerge, as lead times have been bouncing up and down throughout the summer – something to be expected during the summer doldrums. Lead times are now mostly into September. The coming weeks should paint a clearer picture of their direction.

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held a variety of positions within the steel industry since 2007, including reporting and editing for Steel Business Briefing/Platts, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and Kallanish Commodities, as well as marketing for what was then known as ThyssenKrupp Steel USA (now AM/NS Calvert). After a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel in 2021 and has covered the flat rolled, tubular, and trade areas of the industry. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at laura@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7869.