Taiwan’s upstream stainless steel mills recently announced price lists for January, raising rates by NT$5 per kilogram to respond to rising raw material costs. To encourage orders despite weak demand, producers reduced minimum volume requirements, with 1,000-ton orders now considered rare successes. However, distributors thought the price increase was too large, saying that an NT$4 adjustment would be better suited to current market transactions.
Mills face a dilemma as high input costs persist while upcoming holidays limit production days. Although some sellers paused sales to maintain price levels, others raised their quotes. Downstream buyers remain cautious, avoiding large stockpiles due to price sensitivity. This impasse persists as the industry needs to balance necessary cost recovery with weak consumption and high inventory risks.