Sacombank has announced a 2% annual interest-rate reduction for new and existing import-export customers from August 13 to December 31, 2026, shortly after the Prime Minister’s meeting with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the country’s credit institution system on the same morning. The preferential package, backed by a nearly VND 100 trillion portfolio, aims to support import-export businesses, including steel importers and exporters, by reducing financing costs and promoting trade activities. Sacombank is also offering preferential loans at 8.5%-9%/year to priority sectors, business households and FDI enterprises.

[Vietnam] Vietnam’s domestic steel market remained relatively stable, with construction steel prices holding at around 533 USD/tonne as exchange rates and market conditions were largely unchanged. HRC prices stood at around 515–522 USD/tonne CFR Ho Chi Minh City following Formosa Hà Tĩnh’s latest price announcement, while subdued demand continued to weigh on the market. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) initiated an expiry review of anti-dumping duties on pre-painted steel coils from China and Vietnam, with a final determination expected within 180 days. The review could affect regional coated steel trade flows and supplier competitiveness.

The United Kingdom's anti-dumping duty on certain cold-rolled flat steel products originating from China and Russia expired on August 5, 2026, according to a notice from the UK's Integrated Online Tariff service. The expiry removes a trade-defence measure that had applied to imports of these products, potentially opening the door to renewed import flows from the two origins absent a review or extension. The move stands in contrast to the European Union's parallel tightening of steel trade defences during the same period, highlighting a divergence in post-Brexit UK trade policy from the EU's approach on certain product lines. No announcement of a renewal investigation was noted alongside the expiry notice. UK steel producers and downstream buyers are expected to monitor import volumes in the products' categories in the coming months for any material shift. The development is procedural in nature but carries commercial significance for UK cold-rolled coil market participants.

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 5 – At a time when the global ferrous metals sector is undergoing constant restructuring, ASEAN has emerged as a pivotal growth hub for the steel industry, fuelled by robust end-market demand, fast-expanding production capacity and shifting cross-border trade dynamics. Regional infrastructure upgrades, local capacity iteration, and trade policy adjustments are collectively driving ongoing changes in the supply-demand structure, pricing system, and supply chain of the ASEAN steel market. The industry urgently needs a specialized, international dialogue platform to address development pain points and unlock global business opportunities. Against this industry background, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) paid a special visit to the Malaysia Steel Institute (MSI) on August 4, and was warmly welcomed by MSI's team including CEO Ts. Dr. Nurl Muiz, Industry Relations and Liaison Shalini and Data Analyst Shamimi, etc. Both sides introduced their respective development overviews, and engaged in in-depth exchanges on cooperation directions, industry data services, exhibition synergy, and other topics, sorted out areas of cooperation alignment, seeking a long-term and mutually beneficial industry cooperation model. MSI presented its institutional positioning and core functions to SMM. As an industrial service organization under the jurisdiction of Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), MSI serves as a key communication bridge between the Malaysian government and the steel industry. Built on a government-enterprise collaboration model, it has been deeply involved in the domestic steel industry for many years, responsible for public services such as industry standard setting, technology R&D, talent cultivation, and detection and testing, undertaking the function of coordinating the steady development of Malaysia's steel industry. Leveraging long-term industry surveys, MSI conducts in-depth market intelligence research on the Southeast Asian steel market, helping member enterprises enhance market competitiveness through data analysis services. The local government is actively advancing the green steel industry development agenda and increasing the green transformation of the steel sector, but enterprise awareness and industry supporting systems on the market side are lagging behind the policy promotion pace. In response, MSI hopes to connect with professional industry platforms to address the industry's development shortcomings, and hopes to rely on SMM's entire industry chain service capabilities to obtain targeted industry development solutions and implementation suggestions, thereby helping the local green steel industry and the entire ferrous metals industry chain achieve steady upgrades. MSI understands and affirms SMM's data service capabilities in the global steel industry, and intends to leverage SMM's industry chain data to improve regular monitoring of steel capacity, production, supply and demand, etc. in Southeast Asia. MSI has long maintained cooperation with multiple international industry organizations. This engagement with SMM aims to jointly enhance the research standards of Malaysia's steel industry and promote high-quality development of the industry. Exhibition-conference synergy is one of the key cooperation directions in this visit. In order to further penetrate the ASEAN metals market, deliver bilateral cooperation outcomes, and build a higher-standard cross-border industry exchange and cooperation bridge, SMM will host the 2026 SMM ASEAN Ferrous Metals Summit from November 26-27, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The summit focuses on the development trends of the entire ferrous metals industry chain in ASEAN, covering core categories such as steel, iron ore, and coke. It will delve deeply into key industry topics such as steel demand transformation driven by regional infrastructure upgrades, mineral resource development and utilization, cross-border trade and circulation, industrial green transformation, and market price trend forecasts. The summit will bring together mines, steel enterprises, traders, logistics institutions, financial platforms, and industry research experts globally, leveraging SMM's mature industrial data system and market analysis capabilities to provide authoritative market interpretations and efficient upstream-downstream matchmaking channels for participants. MSI expressed that it will provide promotional support for SMM's relevant industry summits, including official channel promotion, invitation of local quality enterprises, and industry resource matchmaking. Both sides reached a preliminary cooperation consensus in terms of exhibition collaboration, brand synergy, and resource sharing. The in-depth engagement with MSI and the cooperation consensus reached will also lay a solid foundation for the successful implementation of this summit, deepening regional industry penetration in the ASEAN region, and releasing regional industrial cooperation value. About the 2026 SMM ASEAN Ferrous Metals Summit This event is the premium platform in the ASEAN ferrous metals market that converge 400+ decision-makers from mines, mills, trading houses, processors, equipment and technology providers, and logistics operators at the same table — precisely when the regional order is being rewritten. Conference Highlights 1. ASEAN Steel Market Outlook An in-depth analysis of regional steel demand, with consumption expected to reach 87.9 million mt in 2026, driven primarily by Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2. China—ASEAN Trade and Supply Chain Restructuring Exploring shifting flows of HRC, billet, slab, and other steel products amid changing supply patterns, trade remedies, and regional market dynamics. 3. Capacity Expansion and Production Transition Examining ASEAN’s evolving steelmaking landscape, including BF-BOF capacity growth, EAF development, overseas investment, and new regional production hubs. 4. Trade Policies and Market Access Assessing anti-dumping measures, tariffs, RCEP-related opportunities, and regulatory changes reshaping steel trade across ASEAN. 5. High-Growth Demand and Product Opportunities Identifying opportunities from infrastructure, construction, automotive, and advanced steel applications, with a focus on Indonesia, Vietnam, and other emerging markets. 6. Executive Networking and Regional Cooperation Connecting leading producers, traders, buyers, investors, associations, policymakers, and industry experts across ASEAN, China, and global markets. Senior Speakers 2026 Scenes from Past Conferences Conference Agenda Contact: Horin Dong WhatsApp: +8618721310824 Email: horindong@smm.cn Scan the QR code for conference details and more discount information About SMM SMM has long been deeply engaged in global commodity industry services, continuously deepening cooperative ties with government and enterprise institutions and industry associations across various countries, and steadily expanding its global industrial service network. Leveraging a mature collaborative model with Indonesian government, enterprises, and associations, SMM has established a comprehensive closed-loop ecosystem for sharing overseas exhibition and conference information, continuously iterating and upgrading its industrial big data system to achieve efficient global market information exchange and joint resource building and sharing. SMM organizes 50+ professional events each year, including industry summits, industry forums, and field trips. Of these, 40 are deeply rooted in the Chinese market, nearly 10 are precisely positioned in core Southeast Asian markets, and a small number cover Europe and Africa. Overseas events have earned global industry recognition thanks to authoritative industry guest lineups, solid industry survey data, and precise supply-demand matchmaking services. SMM has organized a series of high-end summits in Indonesia in cooperation with local authorities such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), gathering 300+ industry elites, and were complemented by professional field trip activities along the overseas industry chain, comprehensively empowering regional industry exchanges and trade matchmaking.

[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review] SS Futures Retreat after Rapid Rise; Spot Stainless Steel Trades Cool Down According to SMM on August 5, SS futures generally pulled back, ending yesterday's shot up, and followed SHFE nickel to slump sharply. As of close, the most-traded SS contract settled at 14,475 yuan/mt. In the spot market, dragged by the renewed decline in SS futures, trading sentiment weakened notably, and traders lowered their quotes. Under the sentiment of rushing to buy amid continuous price rise and holding back amid price downturn, transactions turned visibly quiet. The most-traded SS futures contract: at 10:15 am, SS2609 was at 14,480 yuan/mt, down 390 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums for 304/2B in Wuxi were in the range of 490-890 yuan/mt. In the spot market, the average price for cold-rolled 201/2B coil in Wuxi held steady; for cold-rolled 304/2B coil with raw edges, the average price in Wuxi fell by 75 yuan/mt, and in Foshan also fell by 75 yuan/mt; the price for cold-rolled 316L/2B coil in Wuxi was flat; for hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coil, quotes in Wuxi were unchanged; and cold-rolled 430/2B coil in both Wuxi and Foshan remained flat. This week, macro sentiment turned bearish, dominating metals market trends, and stainless steel futures consolidated on a subdued note under overall pressure. The US Fed's interest rate meeting this week kept rates unchanged as expected, but the overall stance was hawkish, weighing on commodity valuations broadly, and the nonferrous metals sector weakened collectively. Affected by the transmission of macro headwinds, SS futures consolidated on a subdued note in tandem, with the center of futures moving lower and overall market trading sentiment cautious. Spot and inventory side, futures...

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 3 – At a time when the global ferrous metals sector is undergoing constant restructuring, ASEAN has emerged as a pivotal growth hub for the steel industry, fuelled by robust end-market demand, fast-expanding production capacity and shifting cross-border trade dynamics. Regional infrastructure upgrades, local capacity iteration, and trade policy adjustments are collectively driving ongoing changes in the supply-demand structure, pricing system, and supply chain of the ASEAN steel market. The industry urgently needs a specialized, international dialogue platform to address development pain points and unlock global business opportunities. Against this industry background, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) paid a special visit to the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry Federation (MISIF) on July 31, and was warmly welcomed by MISIF's CEO Tan Ai Joo and Manager Eveline Chu. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on core topics such as cross-border resource coordination, exhibition cooperation, industrial information sharing, and co-construction of market trends, with a focus on SMM's industrial layout in the ASEAN region and the building of a cross-border cooperation ecosystem. Regarding long-term cooperation in the future , both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on a mutually beneficial, win-win, and sustainable regular cooperation mechanism, laying the foundation for the future joint empowerment of the steel industry in Malaysia and ASEAN. Industry data and market services cooperation was one of the core priorities of this discussion. MISIF shared the development status of the Malaysian steel market, industry statistical characteristics, and report publication plans. SMM detailed its platform’s compliant subscription service model, which strictly protects enterprises’ confidential operational data and can provide customized industry insights, market analysis, and trend research services tailored to local Malaysian market characteristics and enterprise-specific needs. Furthermore, the two sides exchanged views on global cross-border trade data discrepancies, customs statistical characteristics of various countries, and international trade market variables, etc. Leveraging its comprehensive port data monitoring system, SMM can provide data-sharing services such as high-frequency updated actual port inventories in China. Both sides reached a consensus on establishing a regularized communication mechanism in the future to continuously carry out collaborative exchanges on industry information, market data, and industry trends. SMM has formally extended an invitation to MISIF to bring its member enterprises to attend the 2026 SMM ASEAN Ferrous Metals Summit from November 26-27, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and share industry insights, jointly building a multilateral dialogue platform for the ferrous metals industry that links multiple ASEAN countries. About the 2026 SMM ASEAN Ferrous Metals Summit SMM is thrilled to announce that we will hold the 2026 SMM ASEAN Ferrous Metals Summit from November 26-27, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This event is the premium platform in the ASEAN ferrous metals market that converge 400+ decision-makers from mines, mills, trading houses, processors, equipment and technology providers, and logistics operators at the same table — precisely when the regional order is being rewritten. Conference Highlights 1. ASEAN Steel Market Outlook An in-depth analysis of regional steel demand, with consumption expected to reach 87.9 million mt in 2026, driven primarily by Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2. China—ASEAN Trade and Supply Chain Restructuring Exploring shifting flows of HRC, billet, slab, and other steel products amid changing supply patterns, trade remedies, and regional market dynamics. 3. Capacity Expansion and Production Transition Examining ASEAN’s evolving steelmaking landscape, including BF-BOF capacity growth, EAF development, overseas investment, and new regional production hubs. 4. Trade Policies and Market Access Assessing anti-dumping measures, tariffs, RCEP-related opportunities, and regulatory changes reshaping steel trade across ASEAN. 5. High-Growth Demand and Product Opportunities Identifying opportunities from infrastructure, construction, automotive, and advanced steel applications, with a focus on Indonesia, Vietnam, and other emerging markets. 6. Executive Networking and Regional Cooperation Connecting leading producers, traders, buyers, investors, associations, policymakers, and industry experts across ASEAN, China, and global markets. Senior Speakers 2026 Scenes from Past Conferences Conference Agenda Contact: Horin Dong WhatsApp: +8618721310824 Email: horindong@smm.cn Scan the QR code for conference details and more discount information About SMM SMM has long been deeply engaged in global commodity industry services, continuously deepening cooperative ties with government and enterprise institutions and industry associations across various countries, and steadily expanding its global industrial service network. Leveraging a mature collaborative model with Indonesian government, enterprises, and associations, SMM has established a comprehensive closed-loop ecosystem for sharing overseas exhibition and conference information, continuously iterating and upgrading its industrial big data system to achieve efficient global market information exchange and joint resource building and sharing. SMM organizes 50+ professional events each year, including industry summits, industry forums, and field trips. Of these, 40 are deeply rooted in the Chinese market, nearly 10 are precisely positioned in core Southeast Asian markets, and a small number cover Europe and Africa. Overseas events have earned global industry recognition thanks to authoritative industry guest lineups, solid industry survey data, and precise supply-demand matchmaking services. SMM has organized a series of high-end summits in Indonesia in cooperation with local authorities such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), gathering 300+ industry elites, and were complemented by professional field trip activities along the overseas industry chain, comprehensively empowering regional industry exchanges and trade matchmaking.

Rising compliance costs, a verification bottleneck, and tightening EU import quotas combine to reshape the competitive landscape for Asian stainless steel suppliers in Europe from 2026 onward. The EU CBAM entered its definitive implementation phase on January 1, 2026 — transitioning from a reporting exercise into a mechanism with real trade cost implications.

The ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East escalated as Houthi forces enforced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, fundamentally disrupting bulk commodity shipments through the Red Sea. Although specific regional ferrous volume reductions are yet to be fully quantified, industry experts indicate the crisis has caused a sharp increase in energy prices and severe logistics constraints, inflating freight costs for seaborne iron ore and steel trade.

Chinese steel investment is gradually shifting from direct exports to localized production in Southeast Asia. New and planned projects in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines are expected to strengthen regional supply, but if capacity growth continues to outpace demand, it could further intensify market competition.

Chinese-backed steel investment is increasingly shifting from direct exports toward local production across Southeast Asia. New and planned projects in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines could strengthen regional supply, but may also intensify competition if capacity growth continues to outpace demand.