Since nickel and stainless steel prices have dropped a lot in Taiwan’s domestic market, Taiwan’s Ta Chen International, Inc. said that they can only wish that the stainless steel market will have the chance to revive in the first quarter of 2009.

Moreover, now that more downstream operators are looking for low and non-nickel stainless steel to substitute for the 300 series (8% nickel included) product, the demand for nickel has greatly decreased.

The stainless steel market, meantime, is suffering from the sluggish recession. Accordingly, the rebound of Taiwan’s steel industry is not expected until next first quarter of 2009, in around 3~4 months according to Ta Chen’s earlier prediction.