Taiwan’s Yusco, Tang Eng raise October 304 stainless steel prices

• Tang Eng raises 304 prices third consecutive month
• Yusco keeps 316L surcharges unchanged

Taiwanese stainless steel producers Yieh United Steel Corporation (Yusco) and Tang Eng Iron Works have raised October prices for 304 stainless steel products by NT$1,000/t($32/t), citing higher raw material and oil costs.

Yusco kept its 316L surcharge and 430 grade quotations unchanged, while Tang Eng maintained its 316L surcharge. The revisions indicate continued cost pressure on 300-series stainless steel products.

October price revisions

Yusco increased its October 304 stainless steel prices by NT$1,000/t ($32/t). The company attributed the adjustment to rising raw material costs and higher international oil prices.

Tang Eng followed with a similar increase, raising October prices for both 304 hot-rolled and cold-rolled stainless steel products by NT$1,000/t ($32/t). Its 316L surcharge remained unchanged.

The latest increase marks the third consecutive monthly hike for Tang Eng’s 304 flat-rolled products. The company had raised prices by NT$1,500/t in both August and September, taking the cumulative increase to NT$4,000/t ($128/t) over the three-month period.

In contrast, Walsin Lihwa kept its October 304 wire rod price unchanged, while increasing prices for selected copper-bearing, free-cutting and 316 alloy grades by NT$1,000–2,000/t ($32–64/t).

Strong industrial demand supports market

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs reported August export orders at $102.96 billion, up 71.4% year-on-year, marking the nineteenth consecutive month of annual growth.

Machinery and basic metal export orders increased by 28.3% and 26.8%, respectively. Strong demand from the artificial intelligence supply chain and semiconductor capital expenditure continues to support industrial activity.

The improving industrial order environment indicates relatively steady end-user demand for stainless steel, providing support to producers amid higher input costs.

Outlook

Taiwanese stainless steel prices are likely to remain supported in the near term by elevated raw material and energy costs, alongside firm industrial demand. However, differences in pricing between flat-rolled and wire rod products indicate that mills continue to adopt a selective approach based on grade and product-specific cost pressures.