Taiwan: CSC cuts flat steel prices by around $25/t m-o-m for Aug’26 sales

• Weak downstream demand continues to weigh on market sentiment
• Intensifying regional competition keeps steel prices under pressure

Taiwan’s leading steelmaker, China Steel Corporation (CSC), has reduced prices for hot-rolled coils (HRC), cold-rolled coils (CRC), hot-rolled plates, hot-dip galvanised (HDG), and electro-galvanised (EG) steel coils by TWD 800/t ($25/t) m-o-m for Aug’26 sales.

Factors influencing CSC’s price revision

Subdued demand outweighs cost-side support: Taiwan’s steel market remains under pressure as slowing downstream demand and cautious buying sentiment continue to weigh on consumption. Although higher raw material costs and stronger global steel prices earlier this year supported domestic prices, recent corrections in international markets and persistent market uncertainty have prompted buyers to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. As a result, weak demand has outweighed cost-side support, leading CSC to reduce prices for key flat steel products to maintain competitiveness and support downstream orders.

Intensifying regional competition: Weak demand across Asian markets has intensified competition among regional steelmakers, prompting several producers to reduce prices to secure orders amid subdued market conditions.

Hoa Phat Group reduced its domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) (SAE1006, non-skin-passed) prices by around $35/t (VND 920,306/t) m-o-m for August sales. Following the revision, HRC prices in southern Vietnam were set at approximately $549/t (VND 14,435,655/t), excluding VAT.

Similarly, Formosa Ha Tinh (FHS) reduced its hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices by around $15/t (VND 393,943/t) for August-September shipments, marking its second price cut this month. Following the adjustment, FHS’s SAE1006 skin-passed HRC is now priced at approximately $530/t (VND 13,919,348/t) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) for orders above 20,000 t, compared with $545/t (VND 14,312,189/t) earlier this month.