[ US Hot-Dip Galvanized Exports Drop 0.4% to 110,462 Tonnes in June ]

Finland-based stainless steel producer Outokumpu has inaugurated a new biocoke agglomeration plant in Tornio, representing an investment of approximately USD 34.7 million. The facility processes biochar into biocoke to replace fossil coke in ferrochrome production and could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 82,000 tonnes annually at full capacity. Biocoke production has already started for both internal use and external customers. The project supports Outokumpu’s target to reduce value-chain CO2 emissions by 42% by 2030 from 2016 levels.

[Malaysia] Recent Malaysian rebar transactions show T12 at around MYR 2,330/tonne, while T16 and T20 were both traded at approximately MYR 2,230/tonne. Compared with around MYR 2,200/tonne last week, transaction levels for T16 and T20 have increased by about MYR 20–30/tonne, indicating a modest upward shift in the market, while T12 continues to command a clear premium over larger sizes.

[Vietnam] Construction steel prices held at around 531 USD/tonne EXW, while HRC prices remained at approximately 515–522 USD/tonne CFR Ho Chi Minh City. Although HRC offers from Indonesia have increased, persistent weakness in downstream demand continues to offset higher raw-material costs, keeping buyers cautious and limiting price upside. Meanwhile, Taiwan launched an anti-dumping investigation on cold-rolled stainless steel imports from Vietnam on August 14, covering 20 Vietnamese enterprises including Vnsteel, Posco VST, YGS Vina and Nam Thuan Phat, with the applicants alleging a dumping margin of up to 31.36%. The latest investigation, together with Turkey’s anti-dumping measures, adds to growing trade-remedy pressure on Vietnamese steel exporters and could further constrain overseas sales, shifting greater attention toward the domestic market. Domestic steel demand is expected to benefit from accelerating urbanisation, infrastructure development and project-linked sales, providing support for construction steel consumption.