Due to the stocktaking at end of year, the demand for steel round bars in the Taiwanese domestic market seems to become slow.

However, since the Chinese mills said they may raise new S45C round bar export offer price, it has pushed Taiwan's import round bar transaction price to go up in local market.

Currently, Taiwan origin's S45C round bar transaction price is about NT$20,700~NT$21,000/ton and the market transaction price for import S45C round bar has risen from NT$19,500~NT$20,000/ton to NT$19,800~NT$20,000/ton.

One market trader said that the raising iron ore price and the increasing RMB currency are the major reason for China's mill to raise prices and it may push Taiwan's round bar price to go up in local market.