Thailand cuts Japanese steel import quota

[webfact]

Thailand cuts Japanese steel import quota
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 22 -- Thailand has slashed the import quota on steel under the Japan–Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA to 530,000 tonnes next year.

Udom Wongwiwatchai, Director General of the Office of Industrial Economics, told reporters on today that the decision was reached during a meeting on Thailand’s iron and steel imports hosted by the Commerce Ministry.

He said Thailand’s import of steel sheet from Japan will be reduced to 530,000 tonnes for 2015, down from over 10 million tonnes in 2011.

Mr Udom said the decision followed the less-than-expected consumption of iron and steel in Thailand the industrial sector.

Thailand's automotive industry could only produce 2 million cars last year, lower than the targeted 2.7 million units, while next year it is expected to produce only 2.2 million cars.

Mr Udom said the import quota will be revised again in June next year to synchronise the quota with actual demand.

For next year Thailand’s demand for iron and steel is projected at 17.41 million tonnes. About 6 million tonnes of iron and steel will be produced domestically while the rest will be imported. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-12-22

[Thai at Heart]

Wthell?

10mn down to 500k?

Where is the steel going to come from to make the cars?

[harryfrompattaya]

China has extra according the World Bankers

[apetley]

Wthell?

10mn down to 500k?

Where is the steel going to come from to make the cars?

The general is on a visit to China isn't he? Expect a deal for their steel to be imported.

[Bluespunk]

China expects.

[Thai at Heart]

Wthell?

10mn down to 500k?

Where is the steel going to come from to make the cars?

The general is on a visit to China isn't he? Expect a deal for their steel to be imported.

You reckon that Thailand is going to force Japanese car makers to use Chinese steel to make cars.

Now I might be underestimating the importance of this, but if you wanted to chase all the Japanese car makers out of the country in a second this might be a good plan.

Thailand would reap the whirlwind of this policy in a few short years and their car industry would be a wasteland in 5 years.

[h90]

Wthell?

10mn down to 500k?

Where is the steel going to come from to make the cars?

The general is on a visit to China isn't he? Expect a deal for their steel to be imported.

You reckon that Thailand is going to force Japanese car makers to use Chinese steel to make cars.

Now I might be underestimating the importance of this, but if you wanted to chase all the Japanese car makers out of the country in a second this might be a good plan.

Thailand would reap the whirlwind of this policy in a few short years and their car industry would be a wasteland in 5 years.

No they'll force the Japanese car makers to come with a box full of money to a meeting to speak about it again.....

[ChrisY1]

And someone questioned yesterday that we have no idea how the Thai government works...........

[JOC]

The Motherland orders and the protectorate obeys!!

Typical Thai shortsightedness!!

Q "Do you want 5000 today or 10.000 tomorrow?"

A "5000 today, do you think, I am stupid?"

[Nuddy]

It seems so obvious.

Do they not see that everyone can see what they are up to?

Maybe they care that we can see?

[DLock]

...and the "payment" for the railway has already started...

[Time Traveller]

are those numbers accurate? if so, this is as clear a message you can possibly send. Japanese investment is not welcome, Chinese is.

[BSJ]

When the good fellow comes back he maybe waving a piece of paper in the air, as he walks down the airstairs, crowing about the new Great Wall assembly plant to be built in Thailand.

[FangFerang]

The reduction in quota, a drastic one, follows fast on the heels of the Chinese dual-track rail deal. Thailand said, Hello, China, Goodbye, Japan."

The consequences are going to be somewhat tragic, I think.

[Chonburiram]

Looks like we have Volkswagen coming soon...

[tullynagardy]

Why do so many things in Thailand (from steel imports to gas prices to rice/rubber sales) seem to be controlled centrally in an almost communist way?

Correct me if I`m wrong, but pretty sure car makers in Europe and elsewhere buy their own steel independently to meet their needs. They buy whoever is cheapest and best quality - it`s called a free market.

Even the street vendors have their prices set by the government here!

[tonbridgebrit]

Most countries apply iron/steel import quotas on different countries, Thailand is no different.

Ages ago, America and Europe had serious rows about steel. I think it was to do with America being unhappy about European countries pumping subsidies to their steel industries. Let's get real, most countries want to protect their own steel industry from cheaper imports, either that, or use steel imports as a bargaining chip for other trade deals. Thailand is no different.

The steel market, like a lot of other markets, is not totally free, it's partly rigged.

[chooka]

Wthell?

10mn down to 500k?

Where is the steel going to come from to make the cars?

The general is on a visit to China isn't he? Expect a deal for their steel to be imported.

China buys thiers from Australia

[Ulic]

I guess they want more of that far superior Chinese product.