South Korea’s POSCO announced it will maintain the same ex-factory prices for both 300-series and 400-series stainless steel for December distribution. This decision holds the 300-series price flat for the second month and the 400-series for the 19th straight month.
The company faces significant cost pressures from a stronger dollar and increased fourth-quarter prices for major raw materials such as chromium. However, market demand remains weak, with buyers and distributors prioritizing inventory reduction ahead of the year-end.
POSCO's stable pricing strategy intends to reduce market impact and prevent lower-priced imports from gaining market share. This move prioritizes stability over immediately recovering rising production costs.