Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia increased over the past week, as the nickel uptrend prompted steelmakers in the region to raise their offers again.
Fastmarkets MB's weekly import price assessment for benchmark 304 stainless 2mm trimmed cold-rolled coil in East Asia was $2,060-2,150 per tonne cif on Wednesday March 6, up $30-50 per tonne from a week earlier. Fastmarkets MB's weekly import price assessment for benchmark 304 stainless trimmed hot-rolled coil in the same region was $1,930-2,010 per tonne cif on Wednesday, up $30-60 per tonne week on week.Trading activity was thin during the week, with importers said to be taking a wait-and-see approach because of poor downstream demand."But some customers...