China's leading steelmaker, Baosteel, kept its July prices flat across major products such as hot-rolled, cold-rolled coils, and galvanizing products, ending four consecutive months of hikes.

Mixed raw material costs and weak seasonal demand influenced this decision. Although Australian coking coal jumped, iron ore prices dropped. Meanwhile, global steel markets weakened, with European hot-rolled coils slipping and Vietnamese mills cutting their rates.

Consequently, Taiwan’s China Steel Corporation (CSC) faces heavier pressure regarding its upcoming domestic pricing for July and the third quarter. The company delayed its price release to next week. Market participants anticipate a divergence between CSC's monthly and quarterly pricing strategies as the market consolidates during the traditional low season.