Philippines’ steel inflection point shifts from import dependence to low-carbon, supply-secure growth: SteelAsia

Fastmarkets

Apr 28

Key takeaways: Philippine steel demand is structurally growing, driven by construction-led infrastructure expansion and long steel consumption. Import reliance and geopolitical risks are accelerating...

Source Link

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Most Discussed

{"basename":"","ssrTDKData":{"titleTemplate":"%s - Tiger Brokers","title":"Tiger Brokers | Global Stocks, Options & Futures Trading App","description":"Tiger Brokers, one-stop investment in US stocks, SGX stocks, HK stocks, A-shares & other global assets. One of the best stock trading platforms in Singapore.","keywords":"tiger brokers,tiger trade,tiger brokers singapore,broker online,stock trading in singapore,share trading singapore,brokerage firm singapore,trading app,stock broker singapore,stock trading platforms,trading account","social":{"ogDescription":"Tiger Brokers, one-stop investment in US stocks, SGX stocks, HK stocks, A-shares & other global assets. One of the best stock trading platforms in Singapore.","ogImage":"https://c1.itigergrowtha.com/portal5/static/media/og-logo.0a0bd8dc.png","ogUrl":"https://www.itiger.com/news/2630309221"},"companyName":"Tiger Brokers"},"pageData":{"isMobile":false,"isTiger":false,"isTTM":true,"region":"SGP","license":"TBSG","edition":"fundamental"},"isCrawlerRequest":true,"__swrFallback__":{"@#url:\"https://stock-news.skytigris.cn/v3/news\",params:#id:\"2630309221\",edition:\"fundamental\",auth_exemption:1,,,undefined,":{"share":"https://ttm.financial/m/news/2630309221?lang=en_US&edition=fundamental","thumbnail":"","is_english":true,"pubTime":"2026-04-28 12:00","share_image_url":"https://static.laohu8.com/e9f99090a1c2ed51c021029395664489","id":"2630309221","market":"us","top_or_hot":-1,"title":"Philippines’ steel inflection point shifts from import dependence to low-carbon, supply-secure growth: SteelAsia","media":"Fastmarkets","content":"<div>\n<p>Key takeaways:\n\nPhilippine steel demand is structurally growing, driven by construction-led infrastructure expansion and long steel consumption.\nImport reliance and geopolitical risks are accelerating...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/philippines-steel-inflection-point-shifts-from-import-dependence-to-low-carbon-supply-secure-growth-steelasia/\">Source Link</a>\n\n</div>\n","source":"fastmarkets_highlight","html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\" />\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\"/>\n<meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no,email=no,address=no\" />\n<title>Philippines’ steel inflection point shifts from import dependence to low-carbon, supply-secure growth: SteelAsia</title>\n<style type=\"text/css\">\na,abbr,acronym,address,applet,article,aside,audio,b,big,blockquote,body,canvas,caption,center,cite,code,dd,del,details,dfn,div,dl,dt,\nem,embed,fieldset,figcaption,figure,footer,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,header,hgroup,html,i,iframe,img,ins,kbd,label,legend,li,mark,menu,nav,\nobject,ol,output,p,pre,q,ruby,s,samp,section,small,span,strike,strong,sub,summary,sup,table,tbody,td,tfoot,th,thead,time,tr,tt,u,ul,var,video{ font:inherit;margin:0;padding:0;vertical-align:baseline;border:0 }\nbody{ font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#999; background:transparent; }\n.wrapper{ overflow:hidden;word-break:break-all;padding:10px; }\nh1,h2{ font-weight:normal; line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:.6em; }\nh3,h4,h5,h6{ line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:1em; }\nh1{ font-size:24px; }\nh2{ font-size:20px; }\nh3{ font-size:18px; }\nh4{ font-size:16px; }\nh5{ font-size:14px; }\nh6{ font-size:12px; }\np,ul,ol,blockquote,dl,table{ margin:1.2em 0; }\nul,ol{ margin-left:2em; }\nul{ list-style:disc; }\nol{ list-style:decimal; }\nli,li p{ margin:10px 0;}\nimg{ max-width:100%;display:block;margin:0 auto 1em; }\nblockquote{ color:#B5B2B1; border-left:3px solid #aaa; padding:1em; }\nstrong,b{font-weight:bold;}\nem,i{font-style:italic;}\ntable{ width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:1px;margin:1em 0;font-size:.9em; }\nth,td{ padding:5px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #aaa; }\nth{ font-weight:bold;background:#5d5d5d; }\n.symbol-link{font-weight:bold;}\n/* header{ border-bottom:1px solid #494756; } */\n.title{ margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.3;color:#ddd; }\n.meta {color:#5e5c6d;font-size:13px;margin:0 0 .5em; }\na{text-decoration:none; color:#2a4b87;}\n.meta .head { display: inline-block; overflow: hidden}\n.head .h-thumb { width: 30px; height: 30px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border-radius: 50%; float: left;}\n.head .h-content { margin: 0; padding: 0 0 0 9px; float: left;}\n.head .h-name {font-size: 13px; color: #eee; margin: 0;}\n.head .h-time {font-size: 11px; color: #7E829C; margin: 0;line-height: 11px;}\n.small {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.9); -webkit-transform: scale(0.9); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.smaller {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.8); -webkit-transform: scale(0.8); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.bt-text {font-size: 12px;margin: 1.5em 0 0 0}\n.bt-text p {margin: 0}\n</style>\n</head>\n<body>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<header>\n<h2 class=\"title\">\nPhilippines’ steel inflection point shifts from import dependence to low-carbon, supply-secure growth: SteelAsia\n</h2>\n\n<h4 class=\"meta\">\n\n\n2026-04-28 12:00 GMT+8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/philippines-steel-inflection-point-shifts-from-import-dependence-to-low-carbon-supply-secure-growth-steelasia/><strong>Fastmarkets</strong></a>\n\n\n</h4>\n\n</header>\n<article>\n<div>\n<p>Key takeaways:\n\nPhilippine steel demand is structurally growing, driven by construction-led infrastructure expansion and long steel consumption.\nImport reliance and geopolitical risks are accelerating...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/philippines-steel-inflection-point-shifts-from-import-dependence-to-low-carbon-supply-secure-growth-steelasia/\">Source Link</a>\n\n</div>\n\n\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","isBrief":false,"type":0,"news_type":1,"symbol":"BK4551","symbol_name":"寇图资本持仓","start_time":0,"source_url":"https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/philippines-steel-inflection-point-shifts-from-import-dependence-to-low-carbon-supply-secure-growth-steelasia/","article_id":"2630309221","we_media_id":null,"thumbnails":[],"rights":{"source":"fastmarkets_highlight","url":"https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/philippines-steel-inflection-point-shifts-from-import-dependence-to-low-carbon-supply-secure-growth-steelasia/","rn_cache_url":null,"directOrigin":true},"url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=2630309221","pubTimestamp":1777348800,"columns":[],"sourceInfo":{"source_id":"fastmarkets_highlight","name":"Fastmarkets"},"weMediaInfo":null,"summary":"The Philippines’ steel industry is entering an inflection point, with the market gradually evolving from import reliance toward a more balanced and supply-secure growth trajectory supported by domestic investment and capacity expansion.","collect":0,"end_time":0,"defaultTopTitle":"fastmarkets.com","property":[],"viewcount":null,"language":"en","relate_stocks":{"BK4551":"寇图资本持仓","BK4096":"电气部件与设备","EAF":"Graftech International Ltd."},"translate_title":"菲律宾钢铁拐点从进口依赖转向低碳、供应安全增长：SteelAsia","themeId":null,"isJumpTheme":false,"ttsUrl":null,"symbols_score_info":{"EAF":1},"content_text":"Key takeaways:\n\nPhilippine steel demand is structurally growing, driven by construction-led infrastructure expansion and long steel consumption.\nImport reliance and geopolitical risks are accelerating policy and industry focus on domestic steel capacity and supply-chain control.\nSteelAsia’s EAF-based expansion and scrap utilisation position it at the centre of the Philippines’ decarbonization and localization strategy.\n\nSteelAsia links local steel production with decarbonization push\nSteelAsia‘s vice president Vicky Mathur told Fastmarkets in an interview on April 21 that stronger local production, led by long products used in construction, is being paired with a deliberate push to decarbonize operations – particularly through electric-arc furnace (EAF) production and greater use of locally sourced scrap.\nMathur added that this shift is driven by rising demand linked to infrastructure and urban development, as well as the need to reduce exposure to external supply-chain shocks, volatile freight and energy costs, and wider geopolitical risks that can disrupt imports and amplify price swings.\nConstruction-led growth underpins Philippine steel demand\nMathur described the Philippine steel market as “structurally growing”, with long products – particularly reinforcing bar – remaining the core of consumption.\n“Construction steel products, particularly reinforcing bars, continue to anchor demand supported by the continued infrastructure development, urbanization, and industrial expansion,” Mathur said.\nMathur said demand is “robust across construction and related sectors,” including real estate and broader construction linked activities, reinforcing long steel’s dominant role in the domestic market.\nHe added that Southeast Asia is expected to see continued growth in steel consumption over the coming decade, with the Philippines emerging as one of the key growth markets.\nThe Build Better More (BBM) program, spearheaded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., represents the Philippines’ premier infrastructure initiative. It encompasses approximately 200 significant projects across transportation, energy, water resources, agriculture, and digital connectivity, with planned infrastructure investments reaching 5-6% of gross domestic product.\nMarket participants in the steel industry generally recognize the BBM program as a primary catalyst for increased steel demand within the country, sources said.\nSupply security challenges amid import-reliance and Middle East conflict\nThe import reliance remains a defining feature of the market. “The Philippines continues to rely on imports for certain product segments, particularly flat products and semi-finished materials, where the domestic capacity is still being developed,” Mathur said.\nMathur said import dependence means “a significant portion of supply decisions is influenced externally,” limiting control over timelines and budgets.\nImport substitution and domestic capability‑building are framed as a national resilience issue. “Most major economies prioritize developing domestic steel capability, given its importance to infrastructure and industrial growth,” Mathur said.\nHe also said the risks in supply security are “very real” under “the current global environment and geopolitical tensions and energy price volatility”.\nThese factors can translate directly into supply disruptions and pricing instability, affecting downstream construction projects and public infrastructure budgets.\nLocalization becomes a strategic priority for Philippine steel\n“In the next decade, control of supply chains will matter more than cost alone,” Mathur said, adding that the global steel system is shifting from a globalized supply toward regional resilience.\nPhilippines is “building its future and steel is at its core of that journey” under the threats of supply security. Mathur described the current period as an “inflection point” where strong demand growth, localization priorities and sustainability efforts are converging.\nThis perspective underpins SteelAsia’s emphasis on local production capacity, local scrap utilization, and a broader “future-ready steel ecosystem” designed to reduce exposure to external shocks.\nSteelAsia expands capacity to reduce import dependence\nAs the flagship steel producer in the Philippines, SteelAsia has already taken more than 60% and is aiming to raise to 80%. SteelAsia is a leading domestic steel producer and continues to expand its presence in line with market growth, according to Mathur. \nThe steel mill is expanding capacity into sections like H beam, I beam and, in the future, supported by the 4th electric arc furnace wire rods production will be commissioned in 2028.\nSteelAsia is undertaking significant multi-site investments to expand capacity and broaden its product portfolio, including new product segments such as structural steel, almost doubling its crude steel capacity to 4.8 million tonnes per year by 2028 from the current 2.5 million tonnes per year.\n“It will be the first time Philippines will produce its own structural steel sections…This will mark a significant step toward local production of structural steel sections, reducing reliance on imports,” Mathur said.\nSteelAsia’s priority is to pivot the steel supply from “being import reliant to a more balanced and resilient structure” to meet the rapid growth of steel demand in Philippines and the wider ASEAN market.\nJunkshops and scrapyards fuel the Philippines’ decarbonization efforts\nCarbon regulations such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), together with increasingly stringent decarbonization policies adopted by governments worldwide, have intensified pressure on global steelmakers to cut emissions across their production chains.\nAs a result, producers are accelerating investments in lower‑carbon technologies, alternative steelmaking routes and cleaner raw‑material inputs, sources told Fastmarkets.\nIn the Philippines, steel producers remain largely focused on serving the domestic market rather than exporting to the EU. However, CBAM‑linked pressures are still shaping strategic decisions, particularly as local mills seek to future‑proof operations. \nDecarbonization efforts are increasingly viewed as critical not only for long‑term competitiveness, but also for mitigating exposure to future trade barriers, shifting supply chains and evolving customer expectations around low‑carbon steel, according to Mathur.\nElectric-arc furnaces and scrap underpin low-carbon steel production\n“That’s why we are not promoting or building blast furnaces. We’re only building electric arc furnaces,” Mathur said.\n“The emissions are 0.28 tonnes carbon dioxide… with emissions levels among the lowest globally for steel produced via the electric arc furnace route,” Mathur said.\nThe Philippines has a scrap collection ecosystem that is supported by junkshops and scrapyards, which underpins the country’s decarbonization and fuels SteelAsia’s 100% EAF-based production.\nGovernment offices have released multiple policy of training, regulating and financing to support the junkshops as the first collection point for scrap materials, which they then sell to larger recyclers or ultimately to steel mills.\n\nUnderstanding the Global Landscape for Low‑Carbon Steel and Aluminium\nDiscover how Fastmarkets assesses and explains the evolving value of low‑carbon steel and aluminium in a rapidly changing global market.\n\nRequest access","kind":"highlight","is_publish_news":true,"is_publish_highlight":false,"is_publish_live":false,"is_publish_wemedia":false,"editions":null,"column":"","sentiment":"0","news_tag":"","news_rank":0,"isVideo":false,"video":null,"symbols":[],"gpt_button":0,"need_auth":false,"need_login_tip":false,"code":"91000000","status":"200"}}}