Asia: ASEAN HR Plate Demand moved up in Last 2 Years 

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) HR plate demand continued to rise significantly in the last 2 years. In 2012, demand grew by 27% Y-o-Y to 4 MnT.

However, regional production has stagnated since 2007. Capacity utilization remained very low. Regional production registered 1.3 MnT in 2012, a decline of 2.3% Y-o-Y. Demand has been mainly served by imports, which increased by 2.8% Y-o-Y to 3.5 MnT in 2012.

Demand for HR plate in Indonesia registered the highest volume in the region, at 1.5 MnT in 2012, a significant increase of 31% Y-o-Y.

However, domestic output stagnated at 805.5 tonnes. Import rose by 20% Y-o-Y to 888.2 tonnes in 2012. Most of the demand for hot rolled plate in Indonesia was to serve the construction sector. Around 30% to 35% of the hot rolled plate import was to meet the needs of the expanding shipbuilding sector in the country.

Thailand

The second largest plate consuming country in the region, enjoyed a moderate growth rate of 9% Y-o-Y in hot rolled plate consumption in 2012, at 601.1 tonnes. Domestic production increased by 5% Y-o-Y to 388.9 tonnes. Import rose by 3.9% Y-o-Y to 227.2 tonnes while export dropped by half to 14.9 tonnes.

Philippines

The demand for hot rolled plate was entirely served by import which surged robustly by 27% Y-o-Y to 559.4 tonnes in 2012, the third highest volume of demand in the region. Around 70% of the import was to serve the shipbuilding industry and to balance the construction sector.

Vietnam

Plate demand registered 538 tonnes, a moderate increase of 7% Y-o-Y in 2012. Around 60% of the import was to serve the construction sector and the rest for the shipbuilding sector.

Malaysia

The demand for hot rolled plate increased marginally by 4% Y-o-Y to 441.3 tonnes in 2012. Domestic output declined significantly by 23% Y-o-Y to 151.8 tonnes while import rose sharply by 16% Y-o-Y to 331 tonnes.

Singapore

The largest importer of hot rolled plate in the region, experienced a significant decline in demand for hot rolled plate, by half to 329 tonnes in 2012. Import dropped from 1,223.5 tonnes in 2011 to 955.8 tonnes in 2012.

Meanwhile, export rose by 5.3% Y-o-Y to 626.7 tonnes in 2012.

Source – SEAISI