Taiwan Billet Imports Hit 8-Month High in Aug'18

Taiwan's monthly billet import hit 8-month's high in Aug'18, also it surge by 135% M-o-M & 62% in Y-o-Y, the country's custom data reported. Prior to this, the highest volume of billet imports in Taiwan was recorded in Dec'17 at 0.51 MnT.

Taiwan has imported about 0.47 MnT Billet in the month of Aug'18 as against 0.2 MnT in Jul'18, significantly rise by 135% M-o-M. While on yearly basis, Billet imports surge by 62% as compared to 0.29 MnT in Aug'17.

On the other side, Taiwan ferrous scrap imports have come down by 23% M-o-M in Aug'18.

Further on a cumulative basis (Jan-Aug'18), Billet imports in Taiwan has increased by 5% and stood at around 2.31 MnT, which was about 2.2 MnT in the same period last year.

Japan remains the largest Billet exporter to Taiwan with a contribution of 1.17 MnT (51%), followed by Russia 0.53 MnT (23%) & Vietnam 0.11 MnT(5%).

Prior to this, in CY17 (Jan-Dec) the country's Billet imports was at around 3.43 MnT.

Trade Updates

-- Taiwan scrap import prices continue to remain weak. Price assessment for US origin HMS (80:20) stood at USD 324/MT CNF.

-- As per our sources, Russia is offering billet to Taiwan of 3SP grade at around USD 500/MT CNF Taiwan.

The latest price assessment of global billet exports at USD 440-450/MT FoB Iran & USD 450-460/MT FoB Ukraine.

Taiwan Finish long exports

On a Cumulative basis, Taiwan total finish long exports during Jan-Aug'18 stood at 0.72 MnT, move up by 24% which was about 0.59 during Jan-Aug'17.

Australia was the largest importer for Taiwan finish long steel with a contribution of 0.16 MnT (22%), followed by US 0.07 MnT (10%), South Korea 0.06 MnT (8.62%), Thailand 0.06 MnT (8.53%), China 0.06 (7.89%).