Sumitomo Metals to Raise FOB US$ 1,000/t Hot Coil to Korean Re-rollers

Sumitomo Metal Industries concluded the hot rolled coil price negotiation with South Korean re-rollers, including Hyundai Hysco, to set FOB US$ 1,000 per tonne for July-September shipment. Nippon Steel already concluded the price negotiation at FOB US$ 1,000 per tonne, too. Hot rolled steel coil price in Asia doubled compared with January-March shipment.Sumitomo Metals offered the price hike by over FOB US$ 250 compared with April-June shipment to reflect higher costs for iron ore, coking coal and energy and higher worldwide steel market. South Korean re-rollers resisted the wide hike when cold rolled flat steel and coated steel prices were relatively lower in South Korea. However, the re-rollers finally accepted the hike to secure the material when POSCO reduces the supply of hot coil due to the repair of the electric furnace and Chinese makers take precedence the supply to Chinese re-rollers with impact of the large earthquake.