【SMM Steel】Taiwan's Yieh Phui announced significant April domestic/May export price hikes. Galvanized steel rose NT$1,700/t, pre-painted NT$2,000/t domestically; exports up $50/t. It's the 4th straight month of hikes. Energy, freight, and raw material costs are soaring amid Middle East tensions. Major global mills also raised prices. Galvanized steel prices in Taiwan have surged nearly 20% since late Feb. Low-cost inventory is depleting. Global economy is expanding.

【SMM Steel】Taiwan's CSC is returning to the domestic scrap market this April to boost production after raising HRC prices by NT$1,200. The move alarms local EAF mills, as CSC targets high-quality scrap already in short supply. Smaller mills fear CSC will exhaust domestic stocks, forcing them to buy expensive imported alternatives, raising concerns about operational costs and material access amid intensified competition.

Yieh United Steel Corp. announced further price increases for April 2026, marking its fifth consecutive monthly hike since December 2025. The mill raised surcharges for 304 and 316L series by NT$4,000/ton, while the 430 series rose by NT$1,500/ton. The cumulative growth for 304 products has now reached NT$19,500 over five months. These adjustments are driven by soaring energy costs amid Middle East tensions and tight supplies of ferrochrome and scrap. Additionally, potential Indonesian nickel export duties and stricter ore controls have pushed NPI prices higher. Combined with TWD exchange rate volatility, these factors necessitated the hike to offset rising production expenses.

According to market reports, a major Taiwanese stainless steel wire rod manufacturer announced its April price list on March 30, raising 304 series wire rods by approximately $125/mt (NT$4,000). The 316 series saw a steeper increase of $219/mt (NT$7,000), while the 200 and 400 series both rose by $63/mt (NT$2,000). This move aligns with recent price jumps from other leading regional mills. The company attributed the surge to Middle East instability driving up energy and raw material costs, specifically for nickel, chrome, and molybdenum. Furthermore, a weakening New Taiwan Dollar and potential Indonesian export taxes on nickel have intensified inflationary pressures, directly impacting overall production expenses.

According to market reports, a leading stainless steel manufacturer in Taiwan has announced further price increases for its April products, marking a continuous upward trend since December 2025. The company raised its 304 series and 316L surcharges by approx. $125/mt (NT$4,000) and 430 series by $47/mt (NT$1,500). Over the past five months, the cumulative price growth for 304 products has reached $609/mt (NT$19,500). The mill attributed the hike to escalating Middle East conflicts driving up global energy costs, tightening supply chains for ferroalloys and scrap, and higher nickel pig iron prices due to proposed Indonesian export duties. Rising raw material expenses and fluctuating exchange rates have significantly increased overall production costs.

Japanese electronics maker Kyocera has entered into reciprocal power purchase agreements ('PPAs') with Cosmo Energy Holdings. Starting next month, Kyocera will supply solar power from its assets to Cosmo Energy Solutions. In exchange, Kyocera will procure electricity from the 48 MW Nakaki wind farm operated by Cosmo Eco Power. The partnership aims to diversify their renewable portfolios and explore future collaborations in battery storage. This move follows Kyocera's recent agreement with Osaki Electric and Taiwan Plastics Group to jointly develop an 'AI'-based energy management system integrating solar generation and lithium iron phosphate battery storage, targeting a final contract by the end of this year.

Indonesia's new nickel tariffs and Europe's CBAM have sharply raised overseas stainless steel costs, driving Asian mills to hike prices. Downstream demand remains mixed: Japan and South Korea are resilient, while the Taiwan, China region faces pressure. Wary of rapid price spikes, buyers are limiting purchases to rigid demand. The market will remain cautious until tariff details and actual demand are validated.

【SMM Steel】South Africa's ITAC issued an affirmative final AD ruling on certain flat-rolled steel from China, Japan, and Taiwan. Chinese exporters face 6.99-47.92% duties; Japan 44.95-57.23%; Taiwan 24.20%. Products are ≥600mm wide iron, non-alloy or alloy steel, including HR coils/plate, pickled & oiled, hot-rolled, or uncoated. Excludes stainless and GOES. Duties protect the SACU market from unfair pricing.

[Copper Foil Customs Data] According to data from the General Administration of Customs, the main countries and regions from which China imported copper foil in January and February 2026 were Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Luxembourg, with imports of 8,347.43 mt, 2,009.42 mt, and 997.76 mt, respectively. In January and February 2026, the main countries and regions to which China exported copper foil were Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam, with exports of 2,713.31 mt, 1,474.16 mt, and 792.21 mt, respectively.

According to the latest customs data, China’s total exports of die-casting zinc alloy from January to February reached 689.33 mt, up slightly by 0.9 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis; imports, however, totaled 48.11 million mt, down 35.46 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis. Overall, China’s die-casting zinc alloy trade from January to February showed a pattern of slightly higher exports and a significant pullback in imports.