A slight increase in imported scrap prices has been registered in the Taiwanese market this week. Customers have mostly not been ready to accept any visible increase. At the same time, suppliers have not been active in offering to Taiwan, focusing on other destinations where prices are higher.
Deals for ex-US HMS I/II 80:20 have been concluded at $232-233/mt CFR late this week, which is $2/mt above transactions last week. Offers have still been heard at $235/mt CFR Taiwan. Customers have mentioned that the number of offers from the US has been relatively low as suppliers have not been ready to sell cheap. “We are not interested in purchases now, but some customers need to buy at higher prices,” a Taiwan-based importer said.
Offer volumes from Japan to Taiwan have also dropped this week. Prices for H1/H2 50:50 were heard at $250/mt CFR early this week and at $5/mt higher later. Sources have said that Japanese domestic prices have increased, trying to match export prices, and Japanese exporters have been focusing on more higher-prices markets like Vietnam. “After Tuesday, we have not received offers from Japan,” one of the customers in Taiwan told SteelOrbis.
