Steel wire rods produced by Tata Steel (Thailand).
Thailand's steel industry continues to grapple with global price volatility and mounting competition from Chinese exports, according to Tata Steel (Thailand) Plc (TSTH), a subsidiary of India's largest steelmaker.Anurag Pandey, president and chief executive of TSTH, said disruptions to shipping routes via the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea coupled with US President Donald Trump's military adventures have contributed to unpredictable swings in global steel prices.
"It's difficult to estimate global prices of steel such as billets and slabs, as they are determined by many factors that change rapidly," Mr Pandey said.
China's slowing economy, weighed down by a prolonged property sector crisis, has weakened domestic steel demand. As a result, Chinese producers have sharply increased exports, particularly to Southeast Asia, intensifying competition and pressuring Thai manufacturers.
China's steel exports hit a record 119 million tonnes in 2025, with shipments from January to May 2026 rising to 44.6 million tonnes, up from 41.2 million tonnes a year earlier, according to TSTH.
