Despite China Steel Corporation (CSC) and Chung Hung Steel Corporation (CHSC) maintaining stable January pricing, the steel plate market has slowed due to holiday breaks in both Asia and the West. Distributors’ attempts to stimulate sales through price cuts have largely failed. Industry players hope for stability until the Lunar New Year but anticipate a sluggish market.

China's steel market faces uncertainty after President Xi Jinping’s New Year speech downplayed real estate stimulus, focusing instead on defense and high-tech industries.

Limited transactions were reported in December across imports from China, South Korea, and Japan due to holidays and inventory pressures.

With import costs steady due to exchange rates and minimal margin for price reductions, dealers are left without effective strategies to clear inventory. The market is expected to remain static until post-holiday developments provide clearer direction.