- Cold-rolled imports from Malaysia and Taiwan rise sharply
- Reduced shipments from Indonesia, Vietnam weigh on volumes
SteelDaily: South Korea’s stainless steel imports continued to decline in June, with lower arrivals from Indonesia and Vietnam weighing on overall volumes. However, increased shipments of cold-rolled stainless steel from Malaysia and Taiwan partially offset the decline.
According to preliminary customs data, South Korea imported 30,785 t of stainless steel hot-rolled and cold-rolled wide strips during 1-21 Jun 2026, down 26.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) from 42,022 t recorded during the same period last year.
Hot-rolled stainless steel imports totaled 13,564 t, declining 14.8% y-o-y. The decrease was largely attributed to the absence of Indonesian shipments, compared with 7,513 t imported during the corresponding period in 2025. Meanwhile, imports from Japan increased by 62.8% y-o-y to 4,087 t, while shipments from China and Taiwan rose by 84.7% and 22.3%, respectively.
Cold-rolled stainless steel imports stood at 17,221 t, down 34% y-o-y, reflecting weaker arrivals from key suppliers. Imports from China declined by 25.9% to 6,716 t, while imports from Indonesia and Vietnam dropped sharply by 97% and 99.7%, respectively.
In contrast, Malaysia and Taiwan significantly increased their market presence. Malaysian cold-rolled stainless steel imports surged to 4,523 t, compared with 720 t a year earlier, while Taiwanese imports rose 232.2% y-o-y to 4,339 t.
The average import price of cold-rolled stainless steel increased 10.6% y-o-y to $2,151/t, with Malaysian and Taiwanese material averaging $2,178/t and $2,293/t, respectively.
The shift in import sourcing highlights changing trade flows in the regional stainless steel market amid ongoing adjustments in supply dynamics across Asia.
Note: This article is published as part of a content exchange agreement between SteelDaily and BigMint.
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