[SMM Iron & Steel] Alang Shipbreaking Scrap Stable Amid Weak Steel Demand

This week, HRC social inventory stood at 2.759 million mt, up 53,300 mt WoW (+1.97% WoW), up 40.77% YoY, and up 43.01% YoY on the lunar calendar basis. This week, HRC mill inventory was 1.0969 million mt, up 87,600 mt WoW (+8.68% WoW), up 5.95% YoY, and up 5.59% YoY on the lunar calendar basis. This week, total HRC inventory reached 3.8559 million mt, up 140,900 mt WoW (+3.79% WoW), up 28.74% YoY, and up 29.91% YoY on the lunar calendar basis.

[Vietnam] Currently, CFR Vietnam offers for SS400 and SAE1006 2mm thick coils are being maintained at 540-550 USD/tonne. Hoa Phat Group slashed its prices significantly this month, also mainly driven by intense competition from low-priced imports, with a MoM plunge of 34 USD/tonne to 550-551 USD/tonne (CFR domestic port). Market participants are now focusing on digesting this new price level. In the short term, Vietnam HRC prices are expected to remain under pressure with an overall weak trend. Close attention should be paid to buyers' actual willingness to hold prices firm and the subsequent deal follow-through after Hoa Phat's price adjustment.