[SMM Lecong Hot-Rolled Coil Inventory] Lecong Inventory Declined Well This Week

【SMM Steel】A major HS2 contractor warned UK's steel import tariff doubling will worsen cost pressures for the strained construction sector. The government aims to protect domestic steelmakers. But the move is expected to drive up steel costs amid an energy shock that already lifted steel and concrete prices. Rising material costs threaten the £100bn HS2 project. Mace's chair called the tariffs ill-timed and counterproductive.

【SMM Steel】South Africa's ITAC issued an affirmative final AD ruling on certain flat-rolled steel from China, Japan, and Taiwan. Chinese exporters face 6.99-47.92% duties; Japan 44.95-57.23%; Taiwan 24.20%. Products are ≥600mm wide iron, non-alloy or alloy steel, including HR coils/plate, pickled & oiled, hot-rolled, or uncoated. Excludes stainless and GOES. Duties protect the SACU market from unfair pricing.

【SMM Steel】Taiwan's steel plate market faces a severe supply crunch as Japanese, South Korean, and Malaysian suppliers halt new orders. Japanese and Korean mills normally supply 80-90% of Taiwan's needs. Hyundai Steel's Q1 orders are full; Japanese mills cut exports to avoid AD issues. Malaysian mills, reliant on Chinese parent plants serving other markets, show little interest. The shortage is stabilizing local prices but hurting end-users.