TAIWAN STEEL SCRAP: Buyers fail to keep prices stable after increases in Turkey

Import scrap buyers in Taiwan failed to keep prices stable in the week to Friday October 23 after the bellwether market in Turkey reported price increases, sources said.

Fastmarkets’ daily price assessment for containerized cargoes of steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), US material import, cfr main port Taiwan was $275-280 per tonne on Friday, widening upward by $5 per tonne from the previous day and up by $5-10 per tonne from $270 per tonne on October 9.

Negotiations for containerized cargoes of heavy melting scrap 1&2 (80:20) from the United States West Coast were at $270-275 per tonne cfr Taiwan for the earlier part of the week before transactions were concluded at $273-275 per tonne cfr Taiwan by at least two major steel mills.

Negotiation levels later increased to $275 per tonne cfr Taiwan by Thursday and $275-280 per tonne cfr Taiwan by Friday, sources said,

“There are limited cargoes in the spot market now because many sellers are not offering materials,” a buyer told Fastmarkets on Friday October 23.

Sellers maintained their offers at $275-280 per tonne cfr Taiwan for most of the week and refused to lower prices due to the bullish sentiment in the spot market.

“Turkey is back in the spot market and buying up materials at higher prices compared to weeks past,” a trader in Taiwan told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 21.

Turkish steel mills purchased multiple cargoes, at the least, this week from the Baltic Sea and Europe at $287.50-291 per tonne cfr Turkey, compared with $279.50 per tonne cfr Turkey on October 8.

Offers for bulk cargoes of Japanese H1&H2 (50:50) were at $295 per tonne cfr Taiwan in the first part of the week, with two transactions at $288 per tonne cfr Taiwan on Monday or Tuesday, including at least one 6,000-tonne cargo.

There was a transaction reported at $295 per tonne cfr Taiwan on Thursday for a 3,000-tonne cargo.

Negotiation levels increased to $295-300 per tonne cfr Taiwan by Friday, although there were no transactions heard concluded, sources said, adding that offers were at $300-305 per tonne cfr Taiwan.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its EN-BD-0032 Renewable diesel, del Los Angeles, $/gal assessment that was published incorrectly on Friday April 17 due to a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected the price for MB-STE-0524 Steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton, weekly composite, which was published incorrectly on April 10 and April 17 at $449 per gross ton due to a procedural error. It has been corrected to $450 per gross ton.
North American automotive OEMs are navigating one of the toughest cost pressures today: raw material volatility. As supply chains become more localized through USMCA, the IRA, and reshoring, manufacturers continue to face rising material price risks.
European automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are facing a period of unprecedented market uncertainty.
US steelmakers faced a “robust opportunity” in the data center construction boom, driven by rapid implementation of artificial intelligence software, according to Barry Zekelamn, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Zekelman Industries.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments of steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Italy and steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe for Wednesday April 22 was delayed due to a reporter error. The Fastmarkets pricing database has been updated.