Anti-dumping duties on Chinese hot-rolled steel imports and rising local prices opened the door for Indonesian hot-rolled steel to penetrate Taiwan's market. Indonesian mills customized their production by offering mainstream sizes and flexible specifications, capturing substantial interest from Taiwan’s processors. Consequently, orders in June alone from Taiwan exceeded 5,000 tons, eclipsing the total volume recorded for the entirety of last year.

Major Indonesian suppliers, particularly those linked to large trading networks, drive this expansion. While re-rollers maintain a cautious purchasing stance, steel traders and cutting processors actively secure these alternative supplies to fill the vacuum left by China.

This surge establishes Southeast Asian producers as an influential force, capable of restructuring Taiwan's steel supply network as competing Indonesian mills prepare to lower future price quotes to secure more orders.