[SMM Steel] Vietnam Steel Market Stable Amid Weather Disruptions and Pre-Holiday Caution
[Vietnam] Vietnam’s steel market remained relatively stable, with construction steel prices easing slightly to around 530 USD/tonne EXW as VND depreciation lowered the USD-denominated price, while domestic prices in VND remained largely unchanged. HRC prices stood at approximately 514–521 USD/tonne CFR Ho Chi Minh City on the same exchange-rate effect. Market activity remained subdued as the seventh lunar month continued to weigh on buying sentiment, while weather disruptions affected several logistics routes and new import-export policies created additional uncertainty for traders. On the cost side, persistently thin steel mill margins remain a key constraint on raw-material demand, with the latest rise in coking coal prices likely to make mills more cautious about increasing iron ore procurement. On the demand side, buyers are largely waiting for major mills to announce new prices this week ahead of the September 2 Independence Day holiday, which could provide a clearer signal on the market’s near-term direction.