On Tuesday, April 7, the government of the Philippines decided to extend the lockdown at Luzon Island, where Metro Manila is located, and the nationwide quarantine until April 30, to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Initially, the lockdown was due to expire on April 13.
"We will most likely see the effect of the enhanced community quarantine in mid-April. That is why we are asking for an extension till April 30, so we can measure the full effect," Karlo Nograles, cabinet secretary of the Philippines, said.
As of April 9, the total number of infections in the Philippines has reached 4,076, up by 206 on the day, while fatalities have risen to 203 in total.
The extension of restrictions in the Philippines means that the steel production and demand will stay halted and that import activity in the billet market will stay very limited in the coming weeks. “Demand [for imported billet] is not coming back as the lockdown is extended until April 30,” a Mania-based trader told SteelOrbis. Despite some signs of a scrap price increase in the region, most sources in the Philippines are not optimistic for the near future.