[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Chinese Taiwan's Stainless Market Adopts Wait-and-See Stance Amid Divergent Factory Pricing

The European Commission launched a targeted public consultation on July 28 to gather stakeholder views on the product scope of the EU Steel Regulation, marking the first review of whether additional steel products should be brought under the regulation's trade measures — less than a month after it entered into force on July 1, 2026. The consultation runs for eight weeks until September 28, 2026. Four product categories are under review: tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of cast iron; non-alloy and other alloy wire; stainless steel wire; and non-alloy and other alloy forged bars. Input is invited from steel producers, users, traders, importers, and industry associations. The Commission is required to complete its assessment by December 31, 2026, after which it may decide whether to amend the regulation's product coverage.

Luxembourg-based Aperam reported Q2 2026 Stainless & Electrical Steel segment revenue up 9% QoQ and 6.8% YoY to €1.08 billion, driven by higher selling prices, with average steel selling price rising 9.1% QoQ and 6.2% YoY to €2,400/mt. Segment shipments held stable QoQ and rose slightly YoY to 430,000mt. Adjusted segment EBITDA surged 68.6% QoQ to €59 million, reaching €86 million including a €27 million exceptional gain, while operating profit jumped to €62 million from €11 million in Q1. Group-wide, sales revenue rose 7.2% QoQ and 2.1% YoY to €1.69 billion, adjusted EBITDA grew 44.4% QoQ and 16.1% YoY to €130 million, and net profit climbed to €116 million from €3 million in Q1. CEO Sud Sivaji described Q2 as the company's strongest quarter in four years. Q3 adjusted EBITDA is expected to decline due to the seasonal summer slowdown, though EU safeguard measures and structural improvements from the Leadership Journey program should support resilience.

Tang Eng Iron Works raised its August prices for primary 304 hot-rolled and cold-rolled coils by NT$1,500/ton, matching Yusco's adjustment and marking a second consecutive month of upward price revisions for stainless flat rolled products. The company also lifted 316L surcharges by NT$2,500/ton. In contrast, Walsin Lihwa held its 304 stainless steel wire rod prices flat for a second straight month, highlighting divergent pricing strategies among major upstream mills for August plate and wire rod products respectively.