The Taiwan steel plate market is currently facing a serious supply shortage as major importers from Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia stop taking new orders. 

Traditionally, Japanese and South Korean mills provide 80% to 90% of Taiwan’s supply. However, South Korea’s Hyundai Steel finished its first-quarter orders early, and new orders for the second quarter are not expected until May. Meanwhile, Japanese suppliers like Tokyo Steel and Kobe Steel have reduced their exports to Taiwan to avoid anti-dumping issues, choosing instead to focus on their own internal needs.

Because of these problems, local businesses have tried to buy from Malaysian steel mills, but these Malaysian mills depend on raw material supplies from affiliated plants in China, which are currently busy serving other international markets. As a result, they have little interest in selling to Taiwan right now. 

While this lack of supply has helped stabilize or even increase local steel prices, it has created a difficult situation for end-users who are struggling to find the materials they need for their projects.