Trends in Taiwan’s hot-rolled coil (HRC) trade have diverged sharply between exports and imports. Statistical data show that HRC export volume reached 261,900 tons in September, a sharp increase of 43.3% from August, marking a new monthly high in nearly a year.
In terms of destination markets, Pakistan, Turkey, and Singapore were the primary buyers, accounting for 80.6% of total exports for the month. This indicates a high concentration in a few markets.
Export prices saw a slight decline compared to August averages. Despite the record export volume, suppliers faced continued price competition pressure while vying for orders.
Conversely, import volume dropped from 57,000 tons in August to 29,900 tons in September, a 47.5% month-on-month decrease, with Japan and South Korea serving as the main sources. The price of imported HRC also declined, with the average price in September falling by approximately 2.7% compared to August.
Overall, while HRC exports surged in September, the market remains overly concentrated, and export offers are relatively low. Future attention will focus on whether this trend is sustainable and whether it can genuinely improve capacity utilization and profitability for steel mills.