[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Chinese Taiwan's Stainless Steel Prices Face Turbulence in H2 2026

Published: Jun 24, 2026 10:45

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Chinese Taiwan's upstream mills including Yusco and Tang Eng repeatedly raised stainless steel prices in H1 2026, supported by a nickel price rebound and Indonesian supply policies. However, momentum is fading as downstream processors and distributors report sluggish orders and difficulty passing costs on to end customers, with buyers adopting a cautious, hand-to-mouth purchasing approach. For H2, analysts see prices caught between a firm cost floor, underpinned by Indonesian refined nickel capacity and Asian billet prices, and a demand ceiling where EU CBAM levies and a disappointing global manufacturing recovery are suppressing export orders. A mild restocking pickup is possible around October as seasonal demand improves, but mill-buyer price negotiations are expected to remain tense throughout the period.

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