Centers’ lead times for copper products grow

Feb 20, 2013 | 02:23 PM | Suzy Waite

Tags  service centers, copper, lead times, brass, mills, Aurubis Buffalo, Aurubis, Suzy Waite

NEW YORK — Service centers are reporting extended lead times for certain copper flat-rolled products as copper mills have yet to add additional production, staff or shifts despite an uptick in demand.

"Right now I’m seeing lead times for certain light-gauge products at 13 weeks. ... It means (demand) has picked up sufficiently so the mills are busy, but (it also means) they’re not bringing on any additional capacity (or shifts)," one service center source told AMM.

"I asked that question (to our mills). I said, ‘It sounds like you need more shifts.’ They said they were just happy to be full right now," a second service center source said, adding that he isn’t aware of any mills adding capacity or staff yet.....





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