Southeast Asian Steel Makers Hard Hit by Pandemic, an Industrial Info Market Brief

Factory closures, operational disruptions and supply chain gaps have hurt Southeast Asia's steel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and related government lockdowns. The region is beginning to restart its economy. The reduction in steel-related project activity during the lockdowns was evident during the first half of the year as steelmakers suffered due to low market consumption and looming uncertainties in demand. Several projects also were suspended because contractors were unable to travel between countries as a result of travel bans, while raw material and equipment imports have bogged down by local port authorities. The Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) stated during the 2020 SEAISI e-Conference that the region's steel industry will continue to face difficulties as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the global steel market until 2021. SEAISI is encouraging its members to restructure their products and improve their competitiveness with modern low-energy production technology. Industrial Info is tracking 218 active capital steel mill projects in Southeast Asia worth $39 billion.