Steelmakers hope to raise prices on thick plates

Korean steelmakers have launched talks with shipbuilders over prices of thick steel plates, which are mainly used for shipbuilding, people familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Posco, the country's largest steelmaker, said it is pushing to raise prices of thick steel plates — a key material that accounts for about one-fifth of shipbuilding costs — by up to 15 percent.

The move is meant to reflect increased costs of iron ore, one of the main raw materials used in steel production. A hike in raw materials could eat into steelmakers' bottom lines.

The price of iron ore jumped to $157.42 per ton on Jan. 28 from $93.71 in the same period of last year, according to data from Korea Resources Corporation.

Yi Hyun-soo, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea Co., said steelmakers could pass higher raw material prices onto customers by raising prices as demand for steel is expected to exceed supply.

Hyundai Steel, the second-largest steelmaker, also began negotiations with Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp. and Hyundai Heavy Industries earlier this month, according to an official of Hyundai Steel.

The steelmaking unit of Hyundai Motor Group shifted to a net loss of 440.1 billion won ($392.7 million) in 2020 from a net profit of 25.6 billion won a year earlier due to weak demand for steel amid the pandemic.

Hyundai Steel's operating profit fell 78 percent to 73 billion won for the whole of 2020 from 331.3 billion won a year earlier. Annual sales fell 12.1 percent to 18.02 trillion won.

It remains unclear whether negotiations can proceed smoothly.

Shipbuilders have called for either a freeze or a reduction in prices of thick steel plates as a way to stay competitive amid the global economic slowdown.

"We have an overall consensus that we cannot accept steelmakers' request for price hikes," an official of a shipbuilding company said. He asked not to be identified because negotiations are underway.

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has launched negotiations with Posco and Hyundai Steel and plans to hold similar talks with Dongkuk Steel Mill, the third-biggest steelmaker, an official of Daewoo Shipbuilding said.

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering declined to comment on negotiations with steelmakers, citing the confidential nature of deals.

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering manages three shipbuilding units — Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

Samsung Heavy Industries said it has launched separate negotiations with Posco and Hyundai Steel, though it gave no further details.

Yonhap