[SMM Steel] ASEAN HRC Prices Slide; Short Selling Offers Still Fail to Attract Vietnamese Buyers

The UK will implement its final steel trade measures from July, keeping in-quota steel imports duty-free and imposing a 50% tariff on above-quota volumes. UK Steel welcomed the framework, saying it could support domestic resilience, capacity utilisation and investment. However, concerns remain over high quota allocations for galvanized steel, packaging steel and hollow sections. Tata Steel UK said some quota levels may still allow heavy import penetration and pressure domestic producers.

[Vietnam] Vietnam’s import scrap market remained under pressure. US West Coast bulk HMS 80:20 offers fell to around 390 USD/tonne CFR Vietnam, with workable levels at about 385-387 USD/tonne CFR, while Australian offers were heard at around 380-385 USD/tonne CFR. Japanese H2 scrap was traded at around 370 USD/tonne CFR, largely unchanged w-o-w. Weak residential construction demand and slower Asian buying may keep Vietnam’s import scrap market soft in the near term.

[India] India’s HRC market remained relatively stable, with Mumbai HRC prices holding at around 611 USD/tonne EXW. Buyers continued need-based procurement and avoided inventory build-up. Although monsoon conditions may weigh on trading activity, manufacturing demand stayed relatively steady. India’s AD probe into HRC imports from China, Japan and Russia is expected to support domestic HRC prices in the near term.