[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Chinese Taiwan's Stainless Steel Prices Reclaim TWD$70,000 Level, Hitting 3-Year High

Published: Apr 14, 2026 09:24
Chinese Taiwan's stainless steel prices surged recently, with 304 cold-rolled coils reclaiming TWD$70,500/ton, a three-year high, driven by Middle East tensions inflating energy and freight costs. Upstream mills raised April prices by TWD$4,000, bringing the five-month cumulative increase to TWD$19,500. Despite a TWD$17,000 rise over ten months, trading volume remains thin as buyers focus on clearing existing stock. LME nickel holds near US$17,200, chromium eased slightly, while rising molybdenum costs and a weaker Taiwan dollar keep production expenses elevated. Traders maintain firm pricing to protect margins, leaving the market stable but subdued.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
[SMM Nickel Midday Review] Nickel Prices Surged Sharply on April 14 as Indonesia Released Revised Nickel Ore Benchmark Price (HPM) Plan
8 mins ago
[SMM Nickel Midday Review] Nickel Prices Surged Sharply on April 14 as Indonesia Released Revised Nickel Ore Benchmark Price (HPM) Plan
Read More
[SMM Nickel Midday Review] Nickel Prices Surged Sharply on April 14 as Indonesia Released Revised Nickel Ore Benchmark Price (HPM) Plan
[SMM Nickel Midday Review] Nickel Prices Surged Sharply on April 14 as Indonesia Released Revised Nickel Ore Benchmark Price (HPM) Plan
8 mins ago
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] LME Nickel Prices Rebound to Above US$17,200 Level
2 hours ago
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] LME Nickel Prices Rebound to Above US$17,200 Level
Read More
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] LME Nickel Prices Rebound to Above US$17,200 Level
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] LME Nickel Prices Rebound to Above US$17,200 Level
LME nickel futures rebounded last Friday (April 10), closing at US$17,241/ton for a 0.9% weekly gain. The recovery was supported by a weakening US dollar, a stable Middle East ceasefire, softer-than-expected US inflation data, and firmer Chinese stainless steel futures. Despite the US$153 daily gain, April's average price remains below March levels. LME inventories edged up to 281,670 tons, rising 144 tons (+0.051%) since April. While higher nickel ore costs offer some price support, the market remains well-supplied. With weak stainless steel and new energy demand in China, nickel prices are likely to stay volatile in the near term.
2 hours ago
Indonesia Updates Nickel Ore HPM Coefficient, Expected to Raise Prices and NPI Costs
16 hours ago
Indonesia Updates Nickel Ore HPM Coefficient, Expected to Raise Prices and NPI Costs
Read More
Indonesia Updates Nickel Ore HPM Coefficient, Expected to Raise Prices and NPI Costs
Indonesia Updates Nickel Ore HPM Coefficient, Expected to Raise Prices and NPI Costs
[SMM Nickel Flash] April 13 — According to SMM, Indonesia has officially released the new nickel ore HPM coefficient. Based on the benchmark price as of April 1, the HPM price for 1.5% nickel ore is expected to see a notable raise. Under the old formula, the nickel ore HPM price was $26.66/wmt, while under the new formula, it is $48.42/wmt. Assuming the tax costs arising from the HPM price increase are fully passed through to downstream sectors, the absolute price of nickel ore is expected to rise to approximately $71.25/wmt after the new policy takes effect. The current SMM 1.5% nickel ore CIF price is $68.20/wmt. Based on this calculation, the adjustment is expected to push NPI full costs up by approximately 2.55% from current levels, providing further upward support for NPI prices.
16 hours ago