[SMM Steel] Firmer Rupee Puts Indian HRC Export Returns Under Pressure

Egyptian rolling mills and integrated steel producers are divided over safeguard duties on billet imports, with industry representatives set to meet the ministers responsible for industry, investment, and foreign trade on October 19. Under Resolution No. 121 of 2026, Egypt imposed three-year safeguard duties on billet imports, starting at 13.12% (minimum USD 70/mt) in the first year and falling to 11% (minimum USD 59/mt) by the third year. Rolling mills say the duties raise their production costs and argue that billet availability should be measured by volumes actually available for sale, since integrated producers consume part of their own output. Integrated producers defend the measures, noting billet imports rose from about 128,000 mt in 2021 to 1.7 million mt in 2024, and still reached about 430,000 mt in January-August 2026. Egypt's billet capacity stands at about 13.6 million mt per year, against estimated requirements of 8.8 million mt for rebar production.

ArcelorMittal has announced progress on its €1.3 billion low-carbon steelmaking project at Dunkirk and its €500 million electrical steel expansion at Mardyck, France. At Dunkirk, the company is building a 2 million mt/year electric arc furnace (EAF) and a ladle metallurgy furnace, with preparatory work underway and €300 million already committed to site preparation and long-lead equipment. Using recycled steel, HBI or DRI, and pig iron, the new route is expected to emit about 0.6 mt of CO₂ per mt of steel, around two-thirds less than the blast furnace route. Permit applications have been submitted, with public consultation starting October 15. At Mardyck, where the first three electrical steel lines began operating in March, equipment installation for an annealing-pickling line and a reversing mill is nearing completion, with initial tests expected in spring 2027. The new lines will complete the integrated production chain for electrical steels used in motors and generators.

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 16 Oct , 2026