Plate suppliers in the United States continue to fight over scarce business opportunities. This restricts the mills' efforts to raise basis prices. A good year is predicted for energy-related projects and OEM activity but the market requires more consumer spending and public infrastructure investment. Substantial production overcapacity persists. Improving demand has enabled NSSC, the leading mill in Japan, to lift its basis values for austenitic material, alongside applying increased surcharges to cover higher raw material and other input costs. South Korean producers have attempted to add to their basis figures, due to rising nickel prices. However, demand is insufficient and market values have slipped. Local supply will be affected, in the short term, by the refurbishment of Posco's annealing and pickling lines.
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