Thailand: Finished Steel Imports Rise in April

As per fresh released custom data, Thailand's flat steel imports moved up, although finished long steel imports marked stability M-o-M in Apr'19.

Thailand Finish Flat Steel Import Rise in Apr'19 - Finish flat steel imports registered at 0.76 MnT in April'19 increase by 18.75% against 0.64 MnT in Mar'19.

Factors behind rising imports rate is that Thailand being one of the major importer from China witnessed surge in flat steel imports in Apr'19 and reeling under the pressure of cheaper imports amid escalating trade war between USA and China.

Thus, Thailand is proven to be the sweet spot for importing cheaper steel products from China. Amid USA trade tariffs on China, trades are diverted to Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations. Thailand could gain from a US-China trade war in the long run as trade and investment diverts to Thailand.

As per the reports in Feb'19 a consortium of 'Association of Thai Hot-rolled Steel Sheet' and six other bodies representing iron producers and 472 steelmakers have put forward their concern on surging cheaper Chinese steel imports harming the domestic steel industry. Thus steelmakers in Thailand are worried about trimming domestic steel production capacity amid surge in imports from China. This in turn will result into surge in unemployment in Thailand.

Whereas as on yearly basis finish flat imports down by 6.17% to 0.76 MnT in Apr'19 against to 0.81 MnT in Apr'18.

Thailand Semi Finish Import Decline by 37.14% in Apr'19 - On monthly basis semi finish imports decline by 37.14% to 0.22 MnT in April'19 against 0.35 MnT in Mar'19.

In line, on yearly basis imports stood at 0.22 MnT in Apr'19 lessened by 4.34% against 0.23 MnT in Apr'18.

Thailand Finish Long Import Stable in Apr'19 - On monthly basis Import of Finish long Steel registered at 0.08 MnT in Apr'19 unchanged against previous month as well as on yearly premises.

Commodity wise - Rebar, Wire Rod & Structure (Angles & Shapes) imports remained unaltered on monthly basis i:e; 0.06 MnT 0.02 MnT in Apr'19 respectively.

Country wise - The major import volume has been registered from Japan - 0.03 MnT (0%) followed by Vietnam and China with 0.02 MnT and 0.01 MnT respectively as on Apr'19 which also remain unchanged on monthly basis.

Thailand Ferrous scrap import decline by 25% in Apr'19 - On monthly basis, import of Ferrous scrap observed sharp decline by 25% to 0.03 MnT in Ap'19 against 0.04 MnT in Mar'19.

In line, on yearly basis huge decline of 70% observed and stood at 0.03 MnT in Apr'19 against 0.1 MnT in Apr'18.