In July this year, sales of South Korean production hot dip galvanized (HDG) steel increased by 8.7 percent year on year to 467,300 mt.
According to a recent survey by Korea Metal Journal (KMJ) of five major local HDG producers, the producers' HDG sales in July totaled 289,500 mt in the domestic market and 177,800 mt in the overseas market, up 14.4 percent and 0.5 percent on year-on-basis, respectively.
In July, HDG sales by Union Steel and Dongbu Steel indicated year-on-year increases for the first time in 2012. On the other hand, POSCO saw its July HDG sales drop 4.6 percent year on year. Analysts have cited a recent drop in imports of HDG for the increase in HDG sales of most domestic South Korean producers.
In July, apart from Hyundai Hysco, domestic sales of the HDG producers in question increased on year-on-year basis, while POSCO and Union Steel suffered a shrinkage of their HDG exports in the given month.