In the first half of this year, demand for steel in Thailand increased significantly, up 1.5% year-on-year to 8.48 million tons. In 2017, the apparent demand for steel in Thailand fell sharply by 14% year-on-year to 16.5 million tons. The main reason for the sharp drop in demand was the destocking measures of the Thai steel industry. However, demand for steel in Thailand has rebounded slightly this year. This is basically the same as the growth rate of the two major steel consumption sectors in Thailand - construction and automotive.

According to a report issued by the National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand, the construction industry in Thailand increased by 1.6% in the first half of this year, compared with a decrease of 1.4% in the same period last year. In a research report released in April this year, Ayutthaya Bank of Thailand said that in the long run, due to the increase in spending on large-scale projects, Thailand's public construction will achieve strong growth.

According to the data of the Thai Automobile Research Institute, Thailand's automobile production increased by 1.35% in the first half of this year. Although domestic sales in Thailand fell by 1.56% year-on-year, the Thai automotive industry continued to grow, with exports up 2.22% year-on-year. According to data released by the research institute of Ayutthaya Bank of Thailand, Thailand's demand for new cars will increase by 4 million to 5 million between 2018 and 2020.

It is the growth of demand for steel at home and abroad that has made Thailand's steel output continue to be stable. In the first half of this year, Thailand's steel output remained at 3.46 million tons, and total steel imports increased by 4.4% year-on-year to 5.8 million tons. On the other hand, Thai steel exports increased by 15.2% year-on-year to 778,000 tons.

In terms of output of specific varieties, demand for long products in Thailand fell by 6.5% year-on-year to 2.66 million tons in the first half of this year. Domestic long product output decreased by 10.9% to 1.9 million tons, and plate production increased by 16% to 1.6 million tons.

In terms of imports, Thailand's long steel imports in the first half of this year increased by 10.9% to 1.2 million tons (including bar imports increased by 19.0% year-on-year, wire imports increased by 15.3%), and plate imports increased by 2.8% to 4.6 million tons. . The main reason for the increase in sheet imports was a modest increase in cold rolled coils and coated sheets, while imports of hot rolled coils declined slightly.

In terms of exports, Thailand, as a major steel exporter in the ASEAN region, increased its exports of long products in Thailand by 21% year-on-year to 420,000 tons in the first half of this year, with exports of bars and wire rods rising significantly to 130,000 tons and 14,000 tons respectively. 

However, the export volume of Thai profiles declined slightly, down 0.9% year-on-year to 150,000 tons. In the first half of this year, Thai plate exports increased by 8.9% year-on-year to 354,000 tons. Hot rolled sheet exports are usually small, but the number has increased from less than 10,000 tons in the first half of 2017 to nearly 50,000 tons in the same period in 2018.

Cold rolled coil exports grew moderately, up 6.3% year-on-year to 108,000 tons. At the same time, the export volume of coated sheets dropped by 23.2% year-on-year to less than 100,000 tons.

According to data from the Thai Customs, most of Thailand's plate exports are in Vietnam in the first half of this year, with the main destination for HRC exports being Malaysia.