[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Nippon Steel Cuts Domestic Stainless Steel Wire Rod Prices for Sep-Nov Contracts

Published: Sep 21, 2026 10:24

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Nippon Steel announced lower domestic stainless steel wire rod prices for September-November contracts, covering October-December rolling. Nickel-based SUS304 was reduced by JPY 25,000/t (US$158/t) and chromium-based SUS430 by JPY 5,000/t (US$32/t), marking the first price cuts in five and six quarters respectively, following four consecutive quarterly increases. Among special grades, SUSXM7 declined JPY 30,000/t, SUS303 by JPY 25,000/t, and SUS310S by JPY 65,000/t (US$412/t), while SUS316 held unchanged as sharply higher molybdenum prices offset declines in other alloy-linked costs. Domestically, construction demand remains subdued while industrial equipment — particularly semiconductor manufacturing and data center-related — is recovering; automotive demand holds steady. Import volumes averaged approximately 700t/month during May–July, though Nippon Steel remains cautious about potential oversupply-driven import pressure from Asia and will continue monitoring shipment trends closely.

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