Suharyo: Indonesian steel market will improve in following months of 2013

Asian Metal: Good morning, Mr. Suharyo, I am so happy to invite you to join the interview. First of all, please give us a brief introduction of your company.

Suharyo: PT. Handy Mandiri Steel was established in 2008 with the capital of five million US dollars and our warehouse area of 7,000 m2 located in an Industrial Estate. Our company has been growing very rapidly and by 2013，we already have several machines, for example, Slitting Line 1, Shearing Line 2, Pipe Line 2 and C Channel 2. Our company has about fifty employees. PT Handy Mandiri Steel is not only steel trading, importing various types of steel, but also is manufacturer of pipe and C Channel. Every month, our company imports HRC of about 5,000 MT to fulfill our machines capacity.

Asian Metal: Thanks very much for your introduction. Next, could you tell us the steel market situation in Indonesia in H1?

Suharyo: I think, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries, the steel market was very bad in the first half of this year. Especially in April until June, the steel prices went down very sharply. You know that the market performed very badly.

Asian Metal: Yes, I heard that prices dropped greatly in Apr-Jun. Would you like to tell us the reason?

Suharyo: In my opinion, on one hand, it is because demand was very low but supply was getting more and more. On the other hand, prices of raw materials like iron ore fell down sharply. In addition, continuous price decrease in China, Europe and the United States also imposed negative impact on Indonesian market. This is why prices going down again and again in Indonesia in H1.

Asian Metal: In face of sharp price decline, what did your company do to reduce losses?

Suharyo: Well, actually, we tried to improve our selling. We focus on increasing the production of Pipe and C Channel for the recent, because this type of steel mill increases value added to the company and will ultimately be able to reduce losses.

Asian Metal: Do you think the market will be better in September or in the following months of this year?

Suharyo: Yeah, I am very sure about that. We can see the global economic recovery in H2. The economy is getting better in European countries and America. Furthermore, the price of iron ore is increasing. So, I am sure the steel market will be better in the second half of this year.

Asian Metal: Does the international market mean much to the Indonesian market? What is the relationship between the international steel market and the Indonesia market?

Suharyo: Yeah. It is mainly because Indonesia is very good economic foundation and continuous increase. So the level of steel demand also rose sharply. Therefore the international market relationship should be extended.

Asian Metal: Ok. Would you like to share us your short-term and long-term plans of the company development?

Suharyo: In the short term, we want to optimize our production and our selling as much as possible because only in this way losses can be recovered. For the long term, we want to do business with many countries for more suppliers. If there is no Anti-dumping, we will consider to find some Chinese suppliers.

Asian Metal: We wish you to find better and better suppliers all over the world. Well, thank you for your time. And, thanks again for taking the interview and we wish you a successful work and flourishing business in the future!