[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Chinese Taiwan's Stainless Steel Prices Face Turbulence in H2 2026

Published: Jun 24, 2026 10:45

Save

Chinese Taiwan's upstream mills including Yusco and Tang Eng repeatedly raised stainless steel prices in H1 2026, supported by a nickel price rebound and Indonesian supply policies. However, momentum is fading as downstream processors and distributors report sluggish orders and difficulty passing costs on to end customers, with buyers adopting a cautious, hand-to-mouth purchasing approach. For H2, analysts see prices caught between a firm cost floor, underpinned by Indonesian refined nickel capacity and Asian billet prices, and a demand ceiling where EU CBAM levies and a disappointing global manufacturing recovery are suppressing export orders. A mild restocking pickup is possible around October as seasonal demand improves, but mill-buyer price negotiations are expected to remain tense throughout the period.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

1 min ago

[SMM Nickel Market Flash] Nickel Asia Becomes First Philippine Miner with SBTi-Validated Emissions Targets

Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), the Philippines' largest nickel producer, said it is the first mining company in the country to receive Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation for its greenhouse-gas reduction targets. The validated goals cover cutting absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030 and Scope 3 emissions 37.5% by 2035, both from a 2024 base year, supporting a net-zero-by-2050 ambition. NAC first submitted targets to SBTi in early 2024; the validation confirms alignment with climate science in a sector long seen as hard to abate. As Western OEMs and buyers increasingly screen nickel on ESG and traceability, a validated decarbonization path could strengthen the positioning of Philippine ore supply against higher-emission, coal-powered Indonesian output.

1 min ago

7 mins ago

Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Jun 25)

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 25 Jun , 2026

7 mins ago

[SMM Market Flash] RCT Automation Aids Historic Canadian Nickel Mine Underground-to-Surface Transition

RCT – Powered by Epiroc said its automation technology helped a historic, unnamed Canadian nickel mine safely shift from underground to surface mining. Working with a mining-services contractor, RCT fitted its AutoNav Tele system to two Caterpillar D10 dozers and a Cat 992 wheel loader so operators run them remotely from a dedicated cabin, cutting risk from surface work above old underground voids. It also added site communications and a geofence with crest detection to keep vehicles off a dam edge, and trained personnel. This is an equipment-automation and mine-safety item with no nickel market, production, or pricing relevance.

7 mins ago