The unresolved conflict in the Middle East continues to impact global oil prices and freight rates, keeping raw material and steel prices strong. Recently, Taiwan's imported hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices have been repeatedly raised, and local steel mills have also signaled further significant price increases. 

However, domestic demand for HRC remains slow, and downstream operators have begun to back down and adopt a wait-and-see attitude, resulting in a stagnation in the circulation price of HRC. 

In addition, some importers' sales strategy of securing orders first has led to a gradual increase in market competition. On the other hand, South Korean POSCO not only raised prices but also limited order quantities, in addition to news of a possible further price increase from China Steel Corp. (CSC). 

Most distributors are confident about the market outlook, believing that this upward trend is not yet over and that price fluctuations will not be affected by some competition.