[SMM Steel] El repunte del precio de la barra de refuerzo turca persiste: la fuerte demanda interna eleva los precios EXW mientras el comercio de exportación enfrenta dificultades

Australia’s National Environmental Protection Agency has approved an extension of the Saraji open-cut mine in Queensland, operated by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, allowing a further 55 million tonnes of steelmaking coal to be extracted between now and 2055. It is the agency’s first approval of a coal project since it began operations on July 1, 2026. The approval includes conditions intended to protect threatened-species habitats and water resources. The Climate Council estimated that using the coal overseas for steelmaking could generate about 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the mine’s remaining life, although this is the organisation’s estimate.

Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd. (KOSPO) issued the ELT10 and ELT11 long-term thermal coal tenders on September 3, 2026. The tenders are open only to KOSPO’s existing suppliers and will close at 14:00 Korea Standard Time on September 9. The two tenders cover five contract years and seek a combined nominal volume of approximately 2.99 million tonnes. ELT10 seeks thermal coal with a minimum net calorific value of 4,300 kcal/kg NAR, shipped in 80,000-tonne Panamax cargoes. Its nominal five-year volume is approximately 1.04 million tonnes. The coal may be loaded in Indonesia or Australia, with 80,000 tonnes required in the first contract year and 240,000 tonnes annually in each of the following four contract years. ELT11 seeks thermal coal with a minimum net calorific value of 5,700 kcal/kg NAR, shipped in 150,000-tonne Capesize cargoes. Its nominal five-year volume is approximately 1.95 million tonnes. The tender calls for 150,000 tonnes in the first contract year and 450,000 tonnes annually in each of the following four years. Eligible origins include Indonesia, Australia, the United States, Canada and South Africa. Russian-origin coal, as well as coal or entities subject to United States sanctions, is excluded from both tenders. South Korean utilities increased their reliance on coal in 2026 amid weaker nuclear generation and elevated LNG prices. Coal-fired generation rose 26.6% year on year in the first quarter, while an August heatwave also lifted electricity demand and coal-fleet utilization.

[Vietnam] El mercado de acero plano del sudeste asiático muestra signos de divergencia: los precios de las bobinas en Vietnam suben en línea con las ofertas más altas de las acerías locales, lo que eleva el precio de referencia de importación de HRC en 2 USD/tonelada hasta 527 USD/tonelada CFR Vietnam. Un importante productor siderúrgico vietnamita anunció nuevas ofertas mensuales el 3 de septiembre, aumentando los precios de HRC SS400 y SAE1006 en 10 USD/tonelada para entregas de octubre, fijándolos en 540–543 USD/tonelada CFR según el puerto de entrega, con un descuento de aproximadamente 10 USD/tonelada para compradores de grandes volúmenes. Al mismo tiempo, las importaciones de HRC desde Indonesia se cotizaron a 530 USD/tonelada CFR, y el material indio se registró a 530–535 USD/tonelada CFR. Sin embargo, los precios de importación siguieron siendo poco atractivos para los compradores locales debido a la escasa diferencia de precio con las acerías vietnamitas, y no se registraron transacciones porque los participantes del mercado acababan de regresar de un feriado. Esto contrastó marcadamente con la debilidad en China, donde tanto los precios internos como los de exportación de HRC cayeron en medio de un sentimiento de mercado lento y una actividad comercial escasa.