Taiwan, one of the leading scrap importers has observed marginally increased scrap imports in Apr’19. The country imported 279,485 MT ferrous scrap in April, down 1% M-o-M as against 281,782 MT ferrous scrap in Mar’19, the recent customs data showed. The largest supplier, USA witnessed a drop of 8% M-o-M in scrap exports in Apr’19.
On yearly premises, the country witnessed a rise of 4% Y-o-Y in scrap imports as against 279,299 MT ferrous scrap in Apr’18.
United States remained the largest ferrous scrap supplier – United States ferrous scrap exports to Taiwan observed a drop of 8% M-o-M to 134,985 MT scrap, as against 147,203 MT occupying highest 48% share in total scrap imports in Apr’19. Japan remained at 2nd position supplying 57,222 MT in Apr’19, up 7% M-o-M as against 53,510 MT in Mar’19. Japanese scrap export prices had observed weakening throughout April, before slowing down activities for the Golden week holidays.
Followed by other prominent exporters to Taiwan were Dominican Republic (15,389 MT, up 17% M-o-M) and Australia (14,820 MT, up 143% M-o-M) occupying 6%and 5% share in Apr’19.
Imported scrap prices observed upward movement in Mar’19 – Taiwan witnessed an increase in imported scrap prices in later part of Mar’19, before falling sharply in April. The price of USA origin HMS (80:20) in March had increased by USD 5-7/MT and stood at an average of USD 305-307/MT, CFR Taiwan However global downtrend in April brought down the prices by USD 20-25/MT closing the month at USD 283-285/MT CFR levels.
Scrap imports up 3% Y-o-Y in Jan-Apr’19 – Taiwan imported 962,369 MT ferrous scrap during the first four months of CY19 as against 988,842 MT during the same period last year, witnessing a rise of 3% Y-o-Y. Global scrap prices remained significantly lower this year as compared to the first four months in 2018.
Crude steel production in Taiwan rose by 5% Y-o-Y during Jan-Apr’19 and stood at 7.79 MnT in this period, as compared to 7.43 MnT recorded during Jan-Apr’18, while production dropped to 1.93 MnT in Apr’19 as against 2.03 MnT in Mar’19.
| Country | Apr’19 | Mar’19 | % Change
M-o-M |
Apr ’18 | % Change
Y-o-Y |
Jan-Apr’19 | Jan-Apr’18 | % Change |
| USA | 134,985 | 147,203 | -8% | 125,560 | 8% | 497595 | 478,972 | 4% |
| Japan | 57,222 | 53,510 | 7% | 26,688 | 114% | 146165 | 74,975 | 94% |
| Dominican Republic | 15,389 | 13,193 | 17% | 7,124 | 116% | 49199 | 37,415 | 31% |
| Australia | 14,820 | 6,13 | 143% | 39,426 | -62% | 28137 | 76,982 | -63% |
| Hong Kong | 5,101 | 12,200 | -58% | 15,160 | -66% | 46674 | 50,797 | -8% |
| Costa Rica | 7,488 | 6,793 | 10% | 1,910 | 292% | 31233 | 14,845 | 110% |
| Others | 44,480 | 42,780 | 4% | 54,431 | -18% | 163,366 | 254,586 | -35% |
| Total | 279,485 | 281,782 | -1% | 270,299 | 3% | 962,369 | 988,842 | 3% |
Quantity in MT
Source: Customs Data & SteelMint Statistics
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