Taiwan’s carbon steel producer China Steel Corporation (CSC) raised prices for its major products by NT$500 per ton for March. Combined with February’s adjustments, total prices rose by NT$800, stimulating downstream steel pipe manufacturers to announce their own increases of NT$300 to 600 per ton yesterday (February 4).

Galvanized pipes had the largest increase at NT$600 (up by 2%) due to high zinc costs and supply constraints.

Manufacturers said that global steel trends remain steady while import prices are rising, leaving no cheap material alternatives. Therefore, pipe factories are passing these rising procurement costs to the market. This trend is the same as an overall price movement across Asia and Western markets.