[SMM Lecong HRC Inventory] This week, inventory destocking in Lecong slowed down.

【SMM Steel】SSAB Americas, The Greenbrier Companies, and Alter Trading launched a circular economy initiative to manufacture near-zero emissions steel from recycled materials. The process starts at SSAB's Iowa plant, which uses scrap and fossil-free energy to produce its low-carbon SSAB Zero™ without carbon offsets. Under the agreement, Greenbrier is building 50 gondola railcars using this specialized steel for delivery to Alter. After deployment, these gondolas will transport recycled metals directly back to SSAB, closing the raw material loop. SSAB Americas President Tom Cox said the venture demonstrates the performance of near-zero emissions steel in sophisticated industrial applications, noting that circular economies function best with scaled material and valuable end-use applications within existing supply chains.

【SMM Steel】Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC commissioned a fully integrated steel production line supplied by Primetals Technologies at its Dung Quat facility. The new complex combines two slab casters and a hot-strip mill with advanced automation and digital quality systems, adding 5.5 million tonnes of annual capacity to address surging domestic demand and access high-quality market segments. The two-strand casters deliver 6 million tonnes of annual slab capacity with automated mold-level and width control. The hot-strip mill outputs coils up to 36 tonnes, featuring specialized roll-gap technology for precise strip profiles. The entire system achieved rapid ramp-up, rolling 1.5 mm thin low-carbon steel coils just six weeks from startup.

【SMM Steel】A brief surge in the Taiwanese rebar market quickly dissolved as distributors regained composure. Early in the week, rumors of massive orders at central and southern steel mills triggered intense inquiries, briefly lifting buying sentiment. Mills used the chatter to encourage quick purchases, yet buyers ultimately held back. Closer inspection revealed the rumored deals carried no special pricing incentives versus standard market rates. Large distributors remained inactive, ensuring stable domestic supplies. As buyers can easily secure material from major merchants without upfront cash or letters of credit, actual rebar demand dropped. The market returned to a standstill, significantly lowering the likelihood of further transactions this week.