[SMM Steel] ASEAN HRC Prices Slide as Vietnamese Mills Cut Offers, Denting Import Demand

Published: Jul 6, 2026 15:47

Save

[Vietnam] ASEAN hot-rolled coil (HRC) import offers ticked down to 535 USD/tonne CFR this week amid limited demand. As Vietnamese domestic steel mills aggressively slashed their ex-works prices, local buyers heavily prioritized higher-value domestic resources over imports, leaving the import market slow. Last week, major domestic producers Hoa Phat and Formosa Ha Tinh both cut their HRC prices by 33-34 USD/tonne, bringing Hoa Phat’s target prices for large buyers down to 535-537 USD/tonne CIF and Formosa Ha Tinh’s September shipment offers to 546-556 USD/tonne. This compression forced import prices lower; Indian HRC deals were concluded at 535-540 USD/tonne CFR, while Indonesian HRC was quoted at 525-535 USD/tonne CFR, both failing to attract transactions. In the slab segment, Asian prices also weakened, with an Indonesian mill cutting August shipment offers to 490-495 USD/tonne FOB and a Vietnamese mill quoting 490 USD/tonne FOB, while Chinese-origin slabs stood around 465 USD/tonne FOB. Meanwhile, tightened EU finished steel quotas are expected to prompt European seaborne buyers to look to Asia for semi-finished steel alternatives.

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 for 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

2 hours ago

[SMM Analysis] Indonesian HRC Low-Price Pressure Persists; Weak Steel Demand Continues Across Southeast Asia

2 hours ago

3 hours ago

MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (August 17)

Iron ore futures traded softer today. The DCE most-active contract I2701 settled at RMB 706.5/mt, down 0.70% from the previous session. Spot prices at Qingdao Port fell RMB 2-4/mt from the previous trading day. Trader activity was moderate, while mills purchased on an as-needed basis, leaving overall spot transaction volumes on the light side.

3 hours ago

[SMM Steel] India Domestic Steel Market Stable Amid Cautious Sentiment

[India] India’s domestic steel market remained stable but cautious on Monday compared with Friday with scrap and finished steel prices largely unchanged across key regions. The market sentiment is bearish and subdued with buyers adopting a wait-and-watch approach amid limited price movement and balanced demand-supply conditions. In northern Mandi Gobindgarh, HMS 1&2 (80:20) flat delivered Mandi 355USD/tonne (33,900 INR/tonne). Billet prices stable delivered Mandi at 443USD/tonne (42,400INR/tonne). Meanwhile, Mumbai HMS 1&2 (80:20) unchanged delivered Mumbai 324USD/tonne (31,000INR/tonne). Rebar prices unchanged delivered Mumbai 495USD/tonne (47,300INR/tonne). In South India, billet unchanged delivered Chennai at 455USD/tonne (43,500INR/tonne).

3 hours ago