Yieh United Steel Corp. (Yusco), a leading stainless steel manufacturer in Taiwan, announced substantial stainless steel price hikes for February, continuing increases for the third straight month.

Among them, the 304 hot-rolled and cold-rolled coils have the largest jump at NT$7,500/ton, with 316 surcharges up by NT$3,500/ton and 430 products up by NT$1,000/ton.

Raw material costs rose across the board, matching growth in global stainless steel markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently revised its 2026 global economic growth forecast to 3.3%, driven by AI industry momentum. The US Federal Reserve's rate cuts and China's ongoing loose monetary policy increase international liquidity, spurring investment confidence, consumption, and commodity prices.

Besides, US tariffs on Taiwan were lowered to 15% without stacking on existing most-favored-nation (MFN) rates, aligning Taiwan with competitors such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU to help downstream players secure more international orders.

China's export steel licensing curbs shipments, prompting order shifts. Indonesia's 2026 nickel ore quota drops by 34% from 2025, tightening upstream supply and lifting nickel pig iron and LME nickel prices. January averages surged by 20% over December, with domestic supplier quotes staying high.