Report Date: April 29, 2026 | Coverage: South Korea & Japan
Week-on-Week Comparison Included: April 15–22 vs. April 22–29
This free sample offers a curated look at this week’s most critical market-moving events and data. Subscribers receive the full report, including complete price tables for all eight steel products, detailed policy analysis, landed cost calculations, and week-on-week comparisons that reveal exactly where the market is heading.
📌 Sample Core Insights (Excerpt)
📌 Iran Suspends Slab & HRC Exports Until May 30 — 10Mt Capacity Offline — ▲
Iran officially banned exports of slabs and HRC until May 30, 2026, after production facilities were damaged. Approximately 10 million tonnes of annual capacity is offline, creating a 2–2.5 million tpy semi-finished supply gap. Chinese billet export order books are already full through August. [Al Arabiya / Mysteel]
📌 Tokyo Steel Hikes All Products for May — First Full-Scale Increase in 4 Years — ▲
Tokyo Steel raised HRC by JPY 5,000/t (31/t)∗∗to∗∗JPY98,000/t( 31/t)∗∗to∗∗JPY98,000/t( 616/t) , and similarly for rebar and H-beams. This marks the first consecutive month of across-the-board price increases in approximately four years, reflecting firm demand and rising input costs. [BigMint]
📌 China HRC Export Prices Pull Back from One-Year High — ▼
Chinese HRC (SS400, 3mm) exports were at 493–496/tFOB∗∗onApril28,downslightlyfromthe∗∗493–496/tFOB∗∗onApril28,downslightlyfromthe∗∗497/t peak on April 23, as pre-holiday demand softened. However, prices remain up 5–8/t∗∗comparedtotheApril17assessmentof∗∗5–8/t∗∗comparedtotheApril17assessmentof∗∗488/t. [SMM]
📌 Baltic Dry Index Hits 2,677 — 13-Day Rally Continues — ▲
The BDI climbed to 2,677 points, extending its longest rally of 2026. Freight costs have added an estimated $5–10/t to landed steel import prices compared to early April. [Baltic Exchange]
💰 Sample Price & Trend Comparison (Partial View)
| Product | Market | This Week (Apr 28) | WoW Change (vs Apr 22) | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRC (SS400) | China FOB | **493–496/t▼∗∗(1–2) | +$5–8/t over 2 wks | Pre-holiday profit-taking; firm raw materials |
| Billet (150mm) | China FOB | $470–475/t ▶ | Stable | Full export order books through August |
| HRC (Domestic) | South Korea | ~860,000 KRW/t ▶ | Stable (high-end quotes rising) | POSCO & Hyundai Steel Q2 maintenance tightness |
| HRC (Tokyo Steel) | Japan | JPY 98,000/t ▲ | +JPY 5,000/t | First full-scale consecutive hike in 4 years |
| CFR Busan HRC (Price Undertaking) | Import | $580–600/t ▲ | +$10/t | Higher FOB + elevated freight |
Subscribers receive complete tables for all eight products across China, Korea, and Japan, with precise weekly and monthly changes.
🛡️ Sample Supply Chain & Policy Update (Excerpt)
Iran Supply Gap Triggers Billet & Slab Re-Routing
Iran’s official suspension of slab and HRC exports until May 30, 2026 removes approximately 10 million tonnes of annual steel capacity from global markets. The semi-finished supply gap is estimated at 2–2.5 million tonnes per year, directly benefiting Chinese and Indian billet exporters. China’s Q1 billet exports surged 48.37% YoY in March, and some mills are now fully booked through August. This structural supply shift is supporting billet price floors and will be a bullish factor when Northeast Asian markets reopen after the holidays.
Korea’s AD Duties on HRC Extended to June 22, 2026
The Korea Trade Commission’s five-year definitive duty recommendation remains in place, with temporary measures extended until June 22. Nine approved exporters (6 Chinese, 3 Japanese) enjoy duty-free access under price undertakings. Subscribers receive the full list of approved exporters and the latest quarterly minimum price adjustments.
💡 Sample Actionable Advice (Preview)
| For Procurement Managers | For Export Sales Managers |
|---|---|
| ✅ Secure billet & HRC cargoes before May 6 post-holiday restocking rush; Iran gap will tighten availability. | ✅ Direct billet and HRC offers immediately to MENA & SE Asia to replace Iran’s lost supply. |
| ⚠️ Use Gwangyang Port to bypass Busan congestion and save on logistics (KITA estimates $70.8M annual savings). | ⏳ Pause new CRC/HDG quotes to Japan; AD investigations still active. |
The full report contains six tailored action items for each audience, with specific rationales and target markets.
📥 Get the Full Report
This free sample is only a fraction of the intelligence delivered each week. Subscribers to the Northeast Asia Steel Weekly Report receive:
- 8 product price tables (billet, rebar, HRC, CRC, HDG, carbon steel pipe, stainless steel, CRGO) with FOB, domestic, and import parity data for China, Korea, and Japan.
- Week-on-week and year-on-year comparisons to track market direction.
- Import viability assessments with landed cost calculations under Korea’s price undertaking vs. full AD duty.
- Comprehensive policy tracker: Korea HRC AD duties, Japan cold-rolled stainless steel & HDG investigations, anti-circumvention legislation progress, CBAM carbon costs.
- Supply chain dynamics: POSCO Gwangyang EAF, port congestion, Iran supply gap, China export license requirements.
- Forward-looking price forecast with supporting arguments and one key downside risk.
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Contact Amy directly at amy@amyinsights.com